Gail Ann Hillard

Gail Ann Hillard, 83, of Ozark, Arkansas, died Saturday, January 10, 2015, in Ozark. She was a piano teacher and medical records transcriptionist and was a member of First Baptist Church in Ozark. She was born June 9, 1931 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Abner A. and Hazel Marsh Jones. She was preceded in death by her husband Orange Porter Hillard and her son, Orange Porter Hillard, IV. What does one say about the life of Gail Hillard? Certainly it is tempting to idealize her. She was superhuman in so many ways. Who ever heard her plan Onward Christian Soldiers without being moved to enlist in the Lord’s army? She commanded the piano and it bent to her will, through the complete range of musical experience. From the rising swells of Moonlight Sonatata through the passionate outbursts of Revolutionary Etude, to to fingers fluttering like butterfly wings in Fantasie Impromptu . . . Gail could adapt, and she could show you the way. Such was the story of her life. There was Beauty, Laughter, Adventure. There was tragedy. Suffering. Pain. As she faced challenges, dealt with difficulties, and adjusted to change, the miracle of Gail is not how supernatural she was, but how human. She didn’t float above her circumstances in a cloud of blind faith. She marched through them, eyes wide open, with the cross of Jesus going on before her as her guide. Proverbs 31 says, “A woman of valor, who can find? For her value is far above rubies.” Those who knew Gail Hillard found this treasure. Her value in our lives is inestimable. Like a glorious symphony that comes to an end, she will be missed, but the music of her love lives forever in our hearts. Gail is survived by her daughter, Dr. Marcia Hillard Towell and husband Mel of Ozark; sister-in-law, Pat Hillard, and brother-in-law, Dee Gober, both of Ozark; several nieces and nephews; cousins, Wayne Womack of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Martha Jane Blair of Richardson, Texas, and Becky Prado of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and caregiver Mary Ross. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday January 13, 2015 at the First Baptist Church in Ozark with Reverend Ted Darling officiating and burial at Highland Cemetery, under direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark. Serving as pallbearers are Bill Hudspeth, III, Stone Faulkenberry, George Lindley, Steve Perea, Bob Dunn, and Steven Stewart; serving as honorary pallbearers are the ladies of the Strivers Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church. The family will visit with friends from 4:00 until 6:00 PM Monday, January 12th at Shaffer Funeral Home, 2315 West Commercial in Ozark. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 400 West Market, Ozark, Arkansas 72949.

Gail Ann Hillard

June 9, 1931 - January 10, 2015