Mary Jane Hilliard

Mary Jane Hilliard

Mary Jane Hilliard was born March 30, 1942, in Elk City, Oklahoma, to the late Rayburn Wayne and Eary Lizzie (Rauburn) Cowell. She passed from this life on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Oklahoma City, at the age of 82 years, 3 months and 21 days. Mary and the late Joe DeWayne Hilliard were united in marriage on October 1, 1959, in Sulphur. He preceded her in death on February 9, 2000.

Mary grew up in Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma, prior to her family settling in Sulphur, where she graduated from high school in May of 1960. Mary spent her working career employed with the INCA Head Start at Sulphur where she taught for many years. Throughout her many years there, she touched the lives of countless area children. After retiring as a Disabilities Manager from INCA, Mary then began working at the Sulphur Public Schools, as a Foster Grandmother, assisting children with their reading skills. "Miss Mary" as she was known, had a passion for children and loved being able to help them achieve their goals in reading. Although never formally teaching in a public school system, Mary attended East Central University later in life, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education in 2003. She was proof that age was no excuse when it came to education.

Mary was a very loving and devoted mother and "Granny". Her love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was truly unwavering. She loved being able to travel about the state watching her grandchildren participate in their sporting events. She was a very artistic individual and enjoyed painting, coloring , crocheting, and traveling in her spare time.

Survivors include two daughters, Donna Parenti & husband Anthony, and Christy Hilliard and spouse Keebie Gray, both of Sulphur; 11 grandchildren, Bradley Parenti & wife Kacie, Devon Parenti, Tyler Hilliard, Jordan Goodman & spouse Drake, Christian Gray, Noah Gray, Makhi Gray, Jayden Gray, Tanner Hilliard & spouse Tori, Tyler Hilliard and Taylor Campbell; 16 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews throughout the Cowell and Hilliard families.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by one son, Joe Don Hilliard on November 28, 2017; one daughter, Shelia (Hilliard) Goodman on April 28, 2024; as well as her four siblings, Willa Faye, Peggy, John Harvey, and Bill Cowell.

Funeral services for Mary will be held 2:00PM, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Central Church of Believers, west of Sulphur, with Brother Thomas J. Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at the Oaklawn Cemetery, in Sulphur.

The family will receive friends from 5-7:00PM, on Tuesday evening, July 23rd, at Hale's Funeral Home of Sulphur.

Services are entrusted to Hale's Funeral Home of Sulphur.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.