James "Dub" Hillis

James W. “Dub” Hillis, 71, of Jackson, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2018, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born August 23, 1947, in Dunklin County, Missouri, to Clarence and Melba House Hillis.  In 1979, Dub and Debbie Sue Kirkpatrick became acquainted through their employment with the City of Cape Girardeau.  They were married April 1, 1995, at Post Oak Church near Patton.

Dub attended school in rural Dunklin County, but left high school before graduation to help his family share crop on a cotton farm.  He was proud to earn his GED at the age of 50.

Dub was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 8, 1966, serving in Vietnam for 12 months.  He was honorably discharged September 6, 1968.  He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, one Overseas Service Bar, and the Marksman Badge M-14 Rifle.  He was a member of VFW 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

Upon returning home, Dub worked as a heavy equipment operator, first at Jefferson Barracks for 10 years, and then 30 years for the City of Cape Girardeau, retiring in 2003.

Dub is affectionately remembered for his uncanny ability to find humor in all circumstances.  Children were drawn to Dub because he was really just a big kid himself.  He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan and thoroughly enjoyed going to their home games.

Loving survivors include his wife of 23 years, Debbie Hillis of Jackson; their beloved Shih Tzu, Sammy; two children, James David Hillis of Clarkton, Missouri; Jeannie Hillis of Dexter, Missouri; a grandson, Anthony Rankin of Clarkton; five sisters, Brenda Riddle and Carol Gray of Malden, Missouri, Sandra Holt of Clarkton, Missouri, Diane (Raymond) Ray and Jan Ray of Gideon, Missouri; brother-in-law, Joe (Sandy) Jones of Patton, Missouri; sister-in-law, Nancy (Steve) Anderson of Hillsboro, Missouri; several nieces, nephews, and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Danny Hillis; and his mother-in-law, Carmel Kirkpatrick

Visitation is from 10 a.m. to service time, Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral is at 1 p.m., Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at the funeral home, with the Revs. William Hillis and Don Estes officiating.

Military honors and interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation or the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.