Mitchel Lee Hillyer, age 50, Joplin, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2015 at Freeman Hospital while recovering from an injury sustained from a recent accident.
Mitch was born October 9, 1964 in Lancaster, California to Ted Hillyer and Janice Hillyer. The first few years of his childhood was spent in Las Vegas, NV before moving to Davis, CA where he remained until proudly graduating from Jesuit High School Sacramento in 1983. He loved growing up in California where he was able to enjoy the sand and surf one day to mountain climbing and skiing the next. He continued his education at Marymount Palos Verdes College graduating in 1985 with an associate degree. Mitch relocated to Joplin and attended Missouri Southern State College receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications in 1989.
After achieving his degree he held several positions in local television and radio with his favorite being the time he spent on air as “Mitch McMann” for the Zimmer Radio Group. The last several years he worked for Annie's Bakery, formerly known as Safeway.
Mitch enjoyed his latest role as Grandpa especially playing the part of a teenage mutant ninja turtle or just cuddling up on the couch watching cartoons.
His love for music and music trivia was only trumped by his passion for fishing. Nothing gave him more peace than to wade waist high in a creek with his rod and reel in hand. Mitch had his own version of catch and release called kiss and release. He was truly one with the fish.
Mitch never met a stranger and always had a smile. He will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Lori; children, Carley Tisdale, Arkansas, Ashton Javadipour Hillyer, Joplin, Autumn Zimmerman and her husband, Curtis, Joplin, Meagan McBee and her husband, Evan, Carthage; his father, Ted Hillyer and his wife, Silvia, California; his mother, Janice Hillyer, California; his sister, Jannifer York and her husband, Peter, California; step sister, Natalia Luna and her husband, Jeff, Texas; three grandchildren, Ryan Zimmerman, Chloe McBee, Parker Zimmerman; and several extended family members.
Services are planned for Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel. Drew Ashwell will officiate. Interment will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Shane Biggs, Richard Brown, Raymond Eads, David Eads, Evan McBee and Curt Zimmerman.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
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