Ima Jean Hillyer

Ima Jean Hillyer, age 84, passed away, Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at the Imperial Manor in Imperial, Nebraska.

Ima Jean was born on May 16, 1936 to Darrold and Miriam (Wallace) Hall in Ainsworth, NE. She received her education in Callaway, NE, graduating in 1953 from Callaway High School. 

Jean was married in 1952 to Gerald Walker and soon three children, Sandra, Lynndon Carl, and Mark were born. After her divorce, she married Stewart Donald Gillespie Sr., in 1957 and to that union Stewart Donald Jr. was born.

Jean divorced Don in 1963 and moved herself and her four children to Paxton, NE where she worked for Sixth Street Market in the Meat Department for two years. She was then employed by TRW where she worked on the assembly line and also as a machine operator. 

In 1966, Jean moved to Ogallala and bought her 1st and only home and set the bar high as an example of a hard working, dependable, committed woman.

In 1968 she married Blaine Plunkett and to that union Jean committed herself to her three step children; Mike, Tammy and Robin. She would become a loving mother, not only to her four children but also to several children over her lifetime to whom lovingly called her Mom, Grandma, or Aunt Jeanie.

Jean would retire after sixteen years at TRW, but not before meeting her soul mate, Chester (Pete) Hillyer, whom worked as a machinist there. She was united in marriage to him on February 5, 1981 at Sterling, CO. The couple resided in her home in Ogallala. 

This couple grew together in both their love for each other but also in their love of their savior, Jesus Christ, and being baptized in His name at the Church of Christ. They became members of the Church of Christ in 1979 and loved their church family. Jean enjoyed attending the Ladies Bible Study and they both volunteered for a couple of years at the summer Bible Camp in the Black Hills, SD.

After retirement from TRW, Jean went to work for the Holiday Inn as a Room Checker and retired from there twelve years later so she and Pete could travel and enjoy full retirement together.

Jean was an avid fisherwoman, receiving a Master Angler Award for the largest stripped bass at that time, 16 lbs. Her favorite fishing hole was Lake McCounaghey where she also enjoyed camping for many years until she traded that in for RV'ing to AZ during the winter for several years. 

Jean enjoyed spending time with her friends drinking coffee and with family often, for what would become known as "couch discussion" sessions. She loved dancing those early years along with listening to music both Country and Christian with Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck thrown in as extra favorites. She was an avid reader, loved playing cards, dominoes, and putting puzzles together that she'd frame and decorate her home with. She also enjoyed watching Oprah and lots of movies and she and Pete would compete with each other during their favorite shows like Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. 

Everyone whom knew and loved Jean would describe her as kind, caring and an amazing listener. She also had a knack for sharing memories in the most descriptive, mind painting ways. She valued her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all her step families and friends. 

Ima Jean is survived by her daughter, Sandra (Ron) Harrison, of Ogallala; sons, Lynndon Carl Walker, of Concordia, KS; Stewart Donald (Rose) Gillespie Jr., of Miami, AZ; step-daughters; Tammy Plunkett, of Cheyenne, WY; Daniella Hillyer, of Julesburg, CO; step-sons; Mike Plunkett, of Ogallala; Robin (Dani) Plunkett, of Julesburg; sister Grace (George) Walters, of Paxton; grandchildren; John (Billie) Walker, of Ault, CO; Dr. Clint Harrison (dear friend John Snyder), of Albuquerque, NM; Shelby Jones, of Lincoln, NE; Tonya (Stan) Alexander, of Morrison, OK; Matthew Walker, of Port Royal, SC; Travis Walker, of Morrison, OK; Natasha Tupper, of Omaha, NE; Jacinda (Benito) Morales, of Aurora, CO; Justice Wallace, of AZ; Ariel (Efren) Guaderrama, of Omaha; Dana Gillespie, Stephanie Gillespie, Ryan Baxter, all of Miami, AZ; Christopher Heble, of Lincoln; Chance (Esha) Williams, of Lincoln; Mekayla Huddleston, of Gering and 37 great-grandchildren and several friends, including her church family. 

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Chester "Pete"; parents, Darrold and Miriam Hall; brothers, Don and his wife Yvette Hall; Ronald Hall; sisters, Sheryl Lawrence; Patricia and her husband Harold Schnorr; son, Mark and his wife Sue Walker; grandson, Mark Walker, Jr.; a niece, Cynthia Olson; and her dear cats, Mitzi and Sasha.

Memorial Services will be Saturday, July 3rd 2021 at 10:30 am from the Church of Christ  in Ogallala, NE with Bobby Brueggeman officiating.

Interment will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.  

Online condolences can be given at www.drauckerfh.com. by clicking the share a memory button.

Draucker Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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