Mr. Allen Neil Hillard, 79, of Statesville, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 15, 2014, at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Mr. Hillard was born June 24, 1934 in Iredell County and was the son of the late Ralph King Hillard and Bessie Louise Bost Hillard. He was a graduate of Statesville High School and on June 20, 1958, he married Beverly Harlan Hillard, whom he shared his life with for 55 years and together raised two children. Mr. Hillard was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp and served during the Korean War and retired as a warehouseman with International Paper following 33 years of service. Following his retirement, he traveled the U.S. as an active member of the N.C. Baptist Men Disaster Recovery Team. Mr. Hillard was a strong man of God and shared his love of God as a member of Front Street Baptist Church for 52 years. In addition to his wife, Beverly, Mr. Hillard is survived by one son, Michael Allen Hillard and wife Cheryl and their children, Bethany and Mason along with one daughter, Marilyn Hillard White and husband Josh and their children, Jesse, Ruthie, and Mikey. Funeral services for Mr. Hillard will be conducted 11:00 am Thursday, February 20, 2014, at Front Street Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Stutts and Rev. Darren Johnson officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Iredell Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 pm at Nicholson Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Front Street Baptist Church, 1403 W. Front Street, Statesville, NC 28677. Online condolences can be made to the family at
www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries
and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Allen Hillard.