Villyard, Henry Clayton

KILGORE - Services for Henry Clayton Villyard, 90, of Kilgore, will be 2 p.m. Monday, 
August 20, 2007, at the chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Kilgore, with the Revs. David 
Hampton and Dr. Pete Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in Kilgore City Cemetery. 
Mr. Villyard passed away August 18, 2007 in Kilgore.

Mr. Villyard was born April 18, 1917, in Millsap, Parker County, Texas, to Millard 
Fillmore and Sarah Jamie Villyard, deceased. He was one of six children. His father 
followed the oil booms in Texas and became a part of the many thousands who flocked to 
the East Texas Oil Field during the "Boom."

Clayton attended Overton High School. He left school and went to work for a Humble Gas 
Station in Overton. Mr. Villyard retired as a lease operator after 38 years with 
Tidewater/Getty Oil Co. in 1982. During World War II, Mr. Villyard was a member of the 
Texas Home Guard.

On August 14, 1939, he married Georgia Christine Henderson. They had three children. Mr. 
Villyard was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who 
loved to fish with his wife and "best buddy," Christine. He loved to sing the old hymns 
and taught them not only to his children but also to his grandchildren and great-
grandchildren. Above all, Clayton was a "piddler," who loved to piddle around the house 
and the yard.

In their early years, the family attended Laird Hill Baptist Church, where he was a deacon. 
Later, they attended First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and a member of the 
Masters Sunday school class.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Georgia Christine Villyard of Kilgore; three 
children, William Henry Villyard and wife, Gene, of Longview, Robert Dwain Villyard and 
wife, Sherry, of Tyler and Georgia Diane Johnson and husband, Merritt, of Longview; a 
sister, Letha Mae Lewis of Lubbock; two sisters-in-law, Imagene Daniel and Louise Tilley; 
eight grandchildren, Kyle Villyard, Kirt Villyard, Keith Villyard, Ryan Johnson, Angela 
Buttery, Marshall Johnson, Laura Weatherford, and Clay Villyard; seven great-grandchildren, 
Jennifer and Stephanie Villyard, Max and Molly Villyard, Andrew and Heath Buttery, and Macy 
Weatherford; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of loving friends.

His parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. today, August 19, 2007.

The family would like to thank the staff of Heart to Heart Hospice of Tyler and Kilgore 
Manor for all their loving care.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Kilgore or to Heart to Heart Hospice, 1402 
Rice Road, Tyler, TX 75703.

Please leave online condolences at www.raderfuneralhome.com

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 8/19/2007.