March 23, 1939 - May 26, 2022
Margaret Dolores Springer Jones Hillious was a very special person. Born March 1934, she lived to be 83. She had her daughter at her side when she passed on May 26th 2022. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, a talented and beloved educator.
Marge was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she lived until she was 2 years old and orphaned. She then was adopted by her great-aunt Mary Jones of Vallejo, California and grew up alongside her nephews. After high school she became a Catholic Nun named “Sister Paul” and devoted her life to God. It was at this time that she went to college and received a degree in teaching. Marge had taught in Southern California for 11 years when she felt the Lord calling her elsewhere. She moved to Calaveras County where she taught 25 years before she retired. Marge was introduced to Robert Hillious, thanks to her soon to be sister-in-law Eileen Hillious, in 1976 and they married almost right away. They lived a very happy life until he passed in 2002.
Marge would often share memories of her teaching days with her grandchildren; reminiscing on the joy it brought her. She had befriended many of her past students on Facebook and enjoyed seeing their lives now and the adults they had become. To her students she was known as Ms. Jones or Mrs. Hillious. Marge was only 4’9 and a 1/2”’s small but mighty. A loving and supportive teacher to her “kids”, her students. Some would say, the best teacher they ever had and a gift from God. Marge played the guitar in her younger years. One student said God needed another guitar player in Heaven.
She and Robert loved to gamble and watch football together. She enjoyed playing video games with her grandkids. Gma Marge was known as the “Donkey Kong Champ!”
In 2012 Marge was reunited with her long lost brothers Robert and Charles Springer. They had been separated as children when they went into the orphanage. She looked for her brothers for years without any luck. They had been looking for her as well. It was her niece, Rusty Springer Rodriguez of Southern California, who reunited all of them. This was a wish she always had as a child and she was blessed to see it come true in her lifetime thanks to her niece Rusty.
Marge was preceded in death by her Mother and Father, Barbara and Robert Springer of Tennessee, her husband Robert Hillious of Lodi, California, her brothers, Robert Springer of California and Charles Springer of North Carolina, her children Elizabeth Hillious and Larry Hillious.
Marge will be remembered and is survived by many including: her daughter Cheryl Hillious Ellison and son-in-law Brian Ellison. Grandchildren: Magenta McNabb, Connie & Konrad Schwartz, Jesse and Mackenzie Ellison, Sabrina and Micheal Jeffcoat, and Becky Hillious. Great Grandchildren: Coral and Lauren Ellison, Wyatt and Westin Schwartz, Karin Jeffcoat, Alex Hillious and a few more. Hillious Family: Eileen Hillious, Stacy and Bill Huneke and the Springer Family nieces and nephews. Life long friends and so many students!
SERVICES:
A graveside service will be held on June 26, 2022 at 11:00am at Cherokee Memorial Park located at Harney Lane and Highway 99.