Hillman, Martha (Grier) (1898-1996)

HILLMAN, GRIER, JOHNSTON, KNUPP, SHEARS, SMITH, GASQUE, LESTER

Posted By: Don Wherry (email)
Date: 4/12/2011 at 01:29:10

Martha Hillman, 97

Martha Grier Hillman, 97, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Fri., March 15, 1996, at her residence at the Meth-Wick Community.

Funeral services were held Mon., March 18, at Watts Funeral Home in Montezuma. Rev. Robert Dennert, Chaplin at Meth-Wick Community, officiated for the services. Mrs. Kathleen Ramsay was organist and Mrs. Carol Dale was soloist with music selections of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" and "Precious Lord Take My Hand". Organ selection was "How Great Thou Art." Casket bearers were Ian Shears, Ron Dietrick, Perry Grier, Charles Shears, Casey Pierce and Phillip Grier. Burial was in Golden Rod Cemetery, Deep River.

Martha was born July 14, 1898, in Lincoln Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Jane (Johnston) Grier. She graduated from Deep River High School and Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught school at Humbolt. On Aug. 9, 1924, she married Verne R. Hillman at Deep River. They lived in Manhattan, Kans., before moving to Blacksburg, Va. Vern's work took them to Charlottesville and Danville, Va., and then Spartanburg, S.C. From 1954 to 1961 they lived in Bogar West Java, Indonesia. In 1961 they retired back to Blacksburg, Va., and in 1983 they moved to Meth-Wick Community at Cedar Rapids. Verne died March 2, 1987. Martha was a member of Ingles Chapter No. 96 O.E.S. at Blacksburg as well as the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers: Joseph Benton Grier and Harlan Grier, and a sister, Margaret Knupp.

Martha is survived by one daughter and her husband, Helen and Bill Shears of Kingsport Tenn.; one son and his wife, Dr. Charles and Bettye Hillman of Johnson City, Tenn.; five grandchildren: Charles William Shears, Martha Jane Shears Smith, Ian Andrew Shears, James Boyer Hillman, and Nancy Grier Hillman Gasque; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Florence Lester of Cedar Rapids; and other relatives and many friends.

Memorials may be made to the Meth-Wick Community, 1224 13th N.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52400.

- Montezuma Republican, 20-Mar-1996