Henry Lee Hillery

Henry Lee Hillery passed on to his heavenly home on October 23rd, 2021 in Bethany, Oklahoma at the age of 96. He was born May 6th, 1925 in Russell Springs, Kansas; the third child of six born to William and Ruby Hillery. Raised on a farm in Western Kansas during the depression, Lee grew up valuing faith in God, family and hard work. He was saved at a tender age in a six-week revival paid for by money his father saved up in a mason jar. He always planned on being a farmer, but God had other ideas. While serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he was called to preach in Wichita Falls, Texas. After the war, he attended college at Peniel University (later Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma) receiving a degree in religion and going onto Nazarene Theological Seminary to earn a master’s of divinity. While in seminary, Lee met his partner in life and ministry, Martha Louise Hawks. They married June 15, 1954 and served faithfully in pastorates located in Texas, Kansas and Missouri. While pastoring in Scott City, Kansas, they welcomed their only child, a daughter, Lillian Faye. After Lillian graduated from high school, Lee and Louise wanted her to attend Southern Nazarene University and so they relocated to Bethany, Oklahoma where they were managers of the Twilight Inn Motel. Lee became a source of encouragement to all the pastors he came in contact with. Even though he had retired from full time ministry, he always looked for an opportunity to lift up the name of Jesus. After caring for Louise for several months of illness, Lee put his sweetheart into the arms of Jesus in 2001. Later, Lee married a friend from college days, Leta Davis. They moved to Sun City, California and lived there fourteen years until her death in 2017. He moved back to the Bethany area to live out his final days. Lee is survived by his daughter, Lillian Woodcock and husband, Luther of Yukon, Oklahoma and one grandson, Nathan Woodcock of Norman, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Louise, his second wife, Leta; his parents, William and Ruby; three brothers, Howard, Paul, and Mark; and two sisters, Vivian Chambers and Wilma Norsworthy. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 30th at 2:00 pm at the First Church of the Nazarene in Yukon, Oklahoma. Interment will be in Yukon Cemetery. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Southern Plaza, Good Shepherd Hospice, and the congregation of Yukon First Church of the Nazarene for their care, concern, and prayers.