LYDIA CAFFERY HILLIARD O’REILY

Lydia Caffery Hilliard O’Reily died Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her husband Henry Townsend Hilliard, her parents John Murphy Caffery and Mary Frere Caffery, her brothers John Murphy Caffery Jr., Donelson Thomas Caffery, Clegg Caffery and her sister Mary Caffery Jones. She is survived by her husband James O’Reily, her children Henry Townsend Hillard Jr. and his wife Sally, John Caffery Hilliard and his wife Christine Bruce, Mary Temperance Hilliard and Susan Emily Hilliard, her grandsons Henry Picton Hilliard and his wife Cara, Townsend Wise Hilliard his wife Megan and Scott Caffery Hilliard and his wife Carrie. In addition she is survived by her great grandsons Henry, Grant, Charles Harry and Caffery, her great-grand daughters Leah and Blair and many nieces and nephews all of whom loved their Aunt Lydia.
Lydia was born October 5, 1925, at Columbia Hall, her-family home in Franklin, Louisiana. She graduated from Newcomb College in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1947. While at Newcomb she was president of the Newcomb Honor Board, president of Pi Beta Phi and a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She was an aviatrix taught to fly for $75 by Edna Gardner, a friend of Amelia Earhart. Following her graduation from Newcomb Lydia moved to Houston where she met Bill Hilliard. They married April 16, 1949 at Columbia Hall in Franklin. Lydia lived in Houston for 70 years and was an active member of several organizations: The Junior League of Houston, The Garden Club of Houston, serving as its president in 1978-1979 and as a horticulture judge for many years. She received the Garden Club Appreciation Award and Horticulture Award. She was a dedicated volunteer at the Guild Shop, a charitable arm of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. She was a tireless worker, an enthusiastic leader and a devoted friend. She loved to quilt, to cook, to garden and to entertain at her beach house in Galveston on the Fouth of July and at her horde in Houston on New Year’s Eve. She will be remembered for her kindness, her humor and her loving heart.
Her graveside service will be held June 17, 2017 at 12 noon at the Franklin City Cemetery. Following the service a reception will be held at Dixie, the home of her great nephew and his wife, John and Kate Werner. All friends and family are welcome. The family is grateful to Ernestine Evans for her dedication to and care of Lydia.