Gary Louis Hiler, 69, of Abilene passed into the arms of his blessed Savior, Thursday, July 23, 2020 from an automobile accident near Amarillo. A private funeral service for the family will be held at 1:30 Tuesday, at Bible Baptist Church with a private graveside ceremony at Elmwood Memorial Park to follow. Gary will be in state for friends viewing at Bailey Howard Funeral Home of Clyde, TX on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Gary was born May 25, 1951 in Abilene, TX to Irvin and Alta (Howk) Hiler. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1969 and from Abilene Christian University in 1974 with his Bachelor of Science Degree. In 1987. He graduated from Patriot University with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biblical studies. In 1971, he married Janis Mullican in Breckenridge, TX. and remained in that loving marriage for 48 years. He worked as a boiler inspector, supervisor, QC manager and most recently as a State and National Board Certified inspector for OneCIS.  Throughout his career, Gary lived and worked in Abilene, Houston, Little Rock, and the Dallas area and traveled to the Philippines, South Korea, Israel and Puerto Rico and numerous cities throughout the USA. He was a member of the American Welding Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers where he served as an officer committee member.

Gary was ordained as a minister in 1985 and served by preaching in various nursing homes, jails, a fire station and the Dallas Rescue Mission. In the 1990's Gary joined a team from Arkansas to build a church in Guatemala. He also served as a Sunday School teacher, teaching children, bus teens and several adult classes. He faithfully ministered as a music leader for years and sang in the choir, but Bible study and teaching were his greatest passions. He was a member of Bible Baptist Church of Clyde.

Gary is survived by his wife Janis Hiler of Abilene; two sons, Tommy Hiler and wife April of Sherman and Mark Hiler and wife Natalie of Rowlett; brother Jimmy Hiler and wife Ann of Lubbock; sister Anita Cahoon and husband Rory of Niceville, Florida; two grandchildren, Hailey and Madeline Hiler; six nephews, Phillip Miley, David Miley, Steven Miley, J. Hiler, Aaron Hiler and Bryan Hiler and numerous other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Meals on Wheels or the Bible Baptist Church, Benevolence Fund.