Howard J. Hilliard, 81, of Renfrew died Monday at the Chicora Medical Center.

Born July 26, 1924, in Butler, he was a son of William J. and Bertha E. Stevens Hilliard.

Mr. Hilliard worked in the lumberyard at H.P. Starr Lumber in Gibsonia for more than 30 years.

He was a member of the Tri-State Country Music Association.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy E. Rauschenbach Hilliard, whom he married March 23, 1944; two sons, Howard J. Hilliard Jr., of Elyria, Ohio, and Douglas E. Hilliard of Pittsburgh; two daughters, Sandra Duncan of Renfrew and Shirley Hilliard

of Negley, Ohio; five brothers, Berdell Hilliard of Saxonburg, Albert Hilliard of Prospect, Richard Hilliard of Butler, Robert Hilliard of Niles, Ohio, and Russell Hilliard of Lyndora; and a sister, Mrs. Dale (Shirley) Ealy of Butler. Nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Four brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.

HILLIARD — Friends of Howard J. Hilliard, who died Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Calhoon, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Butler, officiating. Burial will follow at the Rosewood Cemetery in Washington Township.Please visit the funeral home Web site at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.