Jerome Hilliker

Petoskey, Michigan- Jerome "Jay" D. Hilliker peacefully fell asleep in Jesus on March 20, 2018. He was 91.

Jerome was born in River Rouge, MI on July 20, 1926. He served this country in the Second World War and was highly decorated. He married Mary Helen McCreery on October 25, 1944 and they had 3 children. He spent his post-war career working as a stationary steam engineer at Ford Motor Company, from which he also retired. Later in life, he married again to Carolyn Greene on March 16, 1996 and welcomed 3 step-children. Jay was a beloved family man who could always be found at all of the family and church events, supporting the kids, and he had a lovable sense of humor. Eating popcorn around the family table was one of his favorite places to be, besides tinkering in the garage. He loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the Hillsdale Seventh- Day Adventist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mary; 4 brothers and a sister; a grandson, Paul Haywood; a granddaughter, Marianne Lovill.

Jay is survived by his wife, Carolyn, brothers, Ollie (Doris) Hilliker and Fred (Joan) Hilliker; sisters-in-law, Barb Hilliker, LouAnn Hilliker; his children, Michele (Daniel) Lovill, Jane (Raymond) Haywood, and James (Elaine) Hilliker; his step-children, Rick Echola, Gene "Chip" (Jessica) Dixon and Anna Holeman; and also 7 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, and 3 step-great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all.

Funeral services for Jay will be conducted on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 2 p.m. with visitation held one hour prior at Van Horn- Eagle Funeral Home in Hillsdale, Michigan with Pastor Michael Wise to preside. Interment will take place at Winterfield Township Cemetery, Marion, Michigan in the spring.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerome Hilliker, please visit our floral store.