Lavena Mae (Guess) Hillis

Lavena Mae Hillis, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Broseley, Mo., passed away Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 at Westwood Hills Health Care.

Mrs. Hillis was born Oct. 27, 1936 in Broseley, Mo., to the late Wiley Henry and Ella Corder Guess. She was a member of Highland Drive Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff, and had retired from a 30 year banking career. Mrs. Hillis was a member of the Altrusa International organization and volunteered with RSVP. She enjoyed spending time with her family, shopping with friends and volunteering at church and other organizations.

On Aug. 13, 1955, she was married to Lewis Ross Hillis in Hernando, MS. He preceded her in death on May 12, 2014.

Survivors include two children: Rhonda Hillis Leon (Mike) of McHenry, Ill. and Ronald Henry Hillis, of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren: Mikel Sadler, Wil Hillis and Lori Orton, all of Poplar Bluff and Luke and John Leon, both of McHenry, Ill.; two great-grandchildren: Lane Henry Hillis and Drew Orton of Poplar Bluff; two sisters: Wanda Fay Leppanen (Cliff) of O'Fallon, Mo. and Janice Darlene Bollenbach (Michael) of Overland Park, Kans.

A son, Lewis Wayne Hillis also preceded Mrs. Hillis in death.

The visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral chapel with Mr. Vernon Curry officiating. Burial will be at Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley.

Memorial donations are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, 10820 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 220, Saint Louis, MO 63127 or to The Children's Home, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450.