THE PARIS NEWS, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, p. 3: “Mary Francis Jamar Hilyer, 79 of Paris, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, surrounded by friends and family who loved her. Born on Jan. 9, 1937, in Paris, Texas, she served as a military wife for over 21 years. She was an active and beloved member of Calvary United Methodist Church. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, and her ‘Friday night dinners’ will be remembered with love and laughter by many. Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Claude ‘Chet’ Haywood Hilyer; her parents, William J. and Mollie Jamar; brother, Robert Jamar; sisters, Pauline Carter and Billie Jean Blankinship; and son, David Raper. Left to honor her memory are her five sons, Bryan Raper, of Paris, and his wife Windy; Greg Raper, of Paris, and his wife Tracy; Randy Hilyer, of Charleston, South Carolina, and his wife Tula; Keith Hilyer, of Columbia, South Carolina, and his wife Jeannie; and Lee Andrew Hilyer, of Houston, Texas; and one daughter, Cari Bailey, of Newburgh, New York, and her fiancé Edward Arthur Wolfe Jr. She was a beloved “Nana” to 12 grandchildren, April Coward, Lauren Woodard, Kara Bond and Jami Birdsong, of Paris, Kyle Raper, of Little Creek, Virginia, Jake Raper, of Fort Worth, Texas, Trey Jenkins, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Taylor and Jordan Hilyer, of Columbia, South Carolina, Kiki, Yiana and Zoe Hilyer, of Charleston. Great-grandchildren number at 17 currently and her legacy continues to grow. She is also survived by a brother, Jack Jamar; a sister Johnnie Jo ‘Tink’ Russo; and her favorite niece, Paula Jo Griffin. In addition, she is survived by a large loving family and an extended network of friends throughout the United States from their many travels. Family and friends are invited to gather at Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home in Paris, from 5–7 p.m. on Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at Fry & Gibbs Chapel (730 Clarksville Street, Paris) on Thursday at 11 a.m. She will be laid to rest next to her husband and son in Rockford Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting fry-gibbs.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Red River Valley Veterans’ Memorial at rrvvm.com or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stjude.org.”