Joyce Louise Hilliard, 73, of Niles, Ohio, went home to be with her Lord at 7:52 a.m. Thursday at Forum Health-Trumbull Memorial Hospital after being ill since December 2009.

She was born in Butler, Jan. 10, 1937, to Andrew C. and Bessie Mae (Bowser) Minto Sr. and moved to the Niles area following graduation from Butler High School.

She was a longtime active member of Niles First Christian Church, where she was an elder and a member and past treasurer of the Church Women United. She also was a volunteer for Niles Community Services.

For many years, she was the secretary at Niles and Warren Robbins Furniture Co. and Niles Ethan Allen Furniture Store and was an office clerk at the former Niles YMCA.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Robert L. Hilliard Sr., whom she married Nov. 26, 1955; two sons, Michael (Rhonda) Hilliard of Niles and Robert L. Hilliard Jr. of Manassas, Va.; a daughter, Kelly Lynn Hilliard of Warrenton, Va.; two grandsons, Matthew Ryan Bernhard of Manassas and Trevor Joseph Bernhard of Niles; and a brother, James Minto of Niles.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Jackie Christie; and three brothers, Robert L., David P. and Andrew C. Minto Jr.

<B>HILLIARD</B> — Calling hours for Joyce Louise Hilliard, who died Thursday, April 1, 2010, will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at <B>Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home</B> and from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church, Niles, where the funeral will follow at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Cynthia Klingemier officiating. Burial will be at Niles City Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to Niles First Christian Church.Visit www.holetonyuhasz.com to send condolences.