Mack Owen Hillin, Sr. was born January 14, 1933 in Richland Springs, Texas to Gertrude Mae Maxcey and Randolph O’Neil Hillin and passed away June 21, 2008 in Purcell, Oklahoma. He was married to Lavenia Franklin in Georgetown, Texas, on May 7, 1955, and they recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary.

Survivors include his wife, Lavenia of the home; one daughter, Lori Dawn Driskill and husband, David, of Paoli; sons, Mack Owen Hillin, Jr. of Paoli, and Johnie O’Neil Hillin and wife, Michelle, of Lindsay; grandchildren: Ashleigh Smedley and husband, Rawn, of Purcell; Clay Driskill and Alexandria Driskill of Paoli; Dane Mitchell and husband, Chris, of Paoli; Elizabeth Hillin of Edmond; Sterling Hillin of Conroe; and Meagan Hillin and Johnie Hillin, II of Lindsay; great-grandchildren: Gunner and Mackenzi Mitchell of Paoli; Kyleigh and Cole Smedley of Purcell; and Alexis Green of Conroe. Also surviving are his three sisters: Peggy Henniger, Vaughdean Letbetter and Belva Lott, all of Pasadena, Texas. He also had a sister-in-law, Johnnie Ray of Granbury, and brother-in-law, Jerry Franklin and his wife, Dollie, of Houston; a host of nieces and nephews, and one aunt, Jo Nell Huntington of Santa Fe, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father and one daughter, April Camille Hillin.

Mack was a member of the Paoli Baptist Church, the Valley Masonic Lodge # 6 and a veteran of the Korean War. Mack was a prominent pecan man and cattle rancher for the last 53 years with his family in the Paoli, San Saba, and Melrose, Louisiana areas.

Daddy Mack, as everyone called him, loved those grandkids, riding around with Mamaw and checking his cattle. Mack loved the outdoors, fishing with his sons, working the cattle and especially telling everyone how to do it. He was raised and graduated high school in San Saba. Daddy Mack grew up fishing in the San Saba and Colorado Rivers and this is where he began his love of the pecan business.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 23, 2008 at Stufflebean Chapel of Remembrance, with Rev. Chuck Samples officiating. Interment followed at Paoli Cemetery under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.

Notes of remembrance and/or condolences may be sent to the family at www.stufflebeanfuneralhome.com.