James Priestly 'J.P.' Hilliard
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[James Priestly "J.P." Hilliard passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado.
He was born the son of Dan and Gladys Rude Hilliard on July 12, 1920, in Harrisburg. J. P was a lifelong farmer.
On Dec. 12, 1940, he wed Gaynell Wise who preceded him in death in 1978. On July 29, 1990, he married Dana Mulvaney, who survives. Additional surviving family members include two sons, Dick (Margaret) Hilliard of Richmond, Va. and David (Julie) Hilliard of Harrisburg; and a daughter-in-law, Pauline Hilliard of Olympia Fields. A son, James Dan "J.D.," died in 1998.
Grandchildren include Amy Hilliard of Richmond, Va., Jason (Jennifer) Hilliard of Denver, Colo., Nelle (Joe) Minich of Tampa, Fla., Jim Hilliard of Miami Beach, Fla., Joel Hilliard of Denver, Colo. and Jeffrey Hilliard of Chicago; also great-grandchildren, Macie and Sadie Minich and Riehl Hilliard. Survivors also include stepchildren Sandy (John) Lane, Debbie (Donald) Butler, Brenda (Donnie) Hall and Brian Mulvaney; also 15 stepgrandchildren and eight great-stepgrandchildren.
A former Saline County Board chairman, J.P. was a charter member of the Harrisburg Town and Country Lions Club. He thoroughly enjoyed devoting many hours to Lions Club activities, eventually serving as district governor.
Having planned to gather to celebrate J.P.'s 90th birthday this weekend, the family instead invites the public to visitation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday July 10, 2010, at the J. M. Weirauch Funeral Home with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor David Estep. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Harrisburg Lions Club Scholarship Fund.