Hilton Hillhouse, 84

Funeral services for Hilton Hillhouse, 84, of Ava, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025, in the Clinkingbeard Chapel in Ava. Burial will be in the Ava Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Brian Haynes. 

He died on March 20. He was born to Della J. Hillhouse on May 27, 1941, in Ozark County. He was placed in the care of Assumption Abbey when he was an infant and entered state services at 5 years of age.

Hilton grew up at the state hospital. He became a client of the Springfield Regional Office in 1971. Hilton lived at the Gainesville group home until it closed in 1993. He continued to live in the Gainesville area, after joining the Brooke Care Family in 1996.  Hilton moved to Ava in 2003, where he lived with his housemates until his passing.

Hilton was a quick, bright-eyed man with an excellent memory.  He never forgot anyone and loved when his former staff returned to visit. You were greeted with a sniff and a hug…lots of hugs. He liked to dress in avant-garde fashion, with stylish hats and bright colors – orange was his favorite, but hot pink would do.

Hilton was very proud of his large collection of toy trucks and gladly showed them to guests. He was neat and orderly with “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Music was a part of Hilton’s daily life; he liked to sit and rock in his chair for hours, listening to country, gospel or big-band sounds. Hilton also enjoyed playing his keyboard for guests. For outings, he enjoyed going to yard sales and the farmer’s market. Coffee in the morning and chocolate milk in the afternoon were his favorite rituals.

Hilton was loved and will be missed by his large family of caregivers.

Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome.com.