Johney W. Hillis

Funeral service for Johney Hillis, age 88, of Sulphur Springs, Texas will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home with Bro. Perry Johnson and Bro. Doyle Hayes officiating. Interment will follow at North Hopkins Cemetery with Alvin Hillis, Terry Reagor, Kaden Ferrell, Scott Hillis, Blaine Gibson, Charles Aaron Peterson II, Ivan Romero, Steven Jonaitis serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs. Mr. Hillis passed away at Rock Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Johney Wayne Hillis was born on November 3, 1935 in Sweetwater, Texas to Alvin Burton and Freida (Frieble) Hillis. He married Virginia Searls on June 12, 1959 in Sulphur Springs. They were married for 26 years until her passing in 1985. On January 31, 1986 he married Dorthy Mae Goodson in Sulphur Springs and they were blessed with over 38 years of marriage. Johney proudly served in the U.S. Army 24th Infantry Battalion from 1953–1956. He was a high-tech Welder and had multiple welding certifications from Lamar University and Lee College. Johney retired from Chicago Bridges & Iron Company after many years of service. He was a member of the AMVETS Post 36.

Johney is survived by his wife, Dorthy Hillis of Sulphur Springs, Texas; sons, Calvin Hillis (Renee) of Aransas Pass, Texas, Tommy Hillis (Terri) of Ingleside, Texas, Darrell Crocker of West Tawakoni, Texas, Randy Mays of Rusk, Texas; daughters, Patricia Harris (Brian) of Mineola, Texas, Vicki Ferrell (Jackey) of Sulphur Springs, Texas, Sherrie Ross of Payne Springs, Texas, Linda Ross of Eustace, Texas, and Karen Terry of Texarkana, Texas; twenty grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and siblings, Cullom Hillis, Joe Hillis, Bennie Hillis, Ruby Atkins, Winona Forbes, Lennie Sharrow, Neva Yarbrough, Dorothy Shields, and Minnie Reagor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin Burton Hillis and Freida Frieble Hillis; first wife, Virginia Searls Hillis; and siblings, Wade Hillis, Henry Hillis, Rodney Johnson, and Iva Haren.