Mary Lynn Hillmann

Mary Lynn Hillmann, 85, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Center.

Born in Paducah on September 17, 1940, to the late William Edward Layman and Shirley Evelyn Hatfield Layman, she was a woman of immense creativity and community spirit.

A dedicated advocate for education, she served as President of the Reidland Elementary School PTA in the 1970s.  She later established and became president of the Grandparents Club at Christian Fellowship School in Benton, Kentucky.

Creativity was a hallmark of Mary Lynn’s life.  Her passion for the arts led her to co-own Three Lily Gallery, a studio that showcased local and regional artists, and offered personalized art instruction.  A talented artist herself, she found great joy in tole painting, and especially loved teaching others traditional folk-art methods and encouraging their creativity.

She was a member of the Paducah Area Painters Alliance, former president of Quilt City Decorative Artists, and was honored as a Duchess of Paducah in 1981.  A faithful member of Reidland United Methodist Church, Mary Lynn taught Sunday School for many years.

Mary Lynn had a lifelong love for travel, particularly cruising the globe together with her late husband, Hank, and sharing the memories they made along the way.

Above all, Mary Lynn will be remembered for her warm spirit, creative heart, and the love she shared with those around her.

Mary Lynn is survived by her daughter, Holly Hillmann (Jimmy Maddox) of Calvert City, Kentucky; her son, Andrew Hillmann (Cathy) of Shalimar, Florida; her grandchildren, DJ Story (Amanda) of Murray, Kentucky, Hunter Hillmann (Haley) of Calvert City, Kentucky, Steven Maness (Darbie) of Paducah, Kentucky, and Nicole Myers (Jordan) of Dexter, Missouri; and her great-grandchildren, Carter, Lindley, and Lawson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry W. “Hank” Hillmann Jr., and her sister, Kay Cloyes.

A memorial service for Mary Lynn and Hank will be held at 1:00 p.m. on June 6, 2026, at the Reidland United Methodist Church, with Pastor Katie Minnis and brother-in-law Nick Cloyes officiating.  Burial will follow on Sunday, at Antioch Christian Church cemetery in Big Clifty, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, by check, to “McCracken County Special Olympics” with a note in the MEMO section stating “Donation”; Please send contributions C/O:

Holly Hillmann
41 Fooks Road
Calvert City, KY 42029

Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Please share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.