Ira William Hillyard

Mapleton, Utah - Dr. Ira William Hillyard, 85, formerly of Pocatello, Idaho, Emeritus Professor and Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Idaho State University, died in Mapleton, Utah on Sunday the 15th of November 2009. He served this college as a teacher and administrator for almost two decades, but will be best remembered for his determined efforts to keep the College accredited during a severe state financial exigency that threatened to close its doors in the early 1980's.



Ira was born March 23, 1924, in Richmond, Utah, the second child of Neal Jacobsen and Lucille Duce Hillyard. He married Venice Lenore Williams, July 10, 1945, in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. She died February 20, 1967. He married Norma Larsen Marziale, May 1, 1970 in Pocatello, Idaho. This marriage was made eternal in the Provo LDS Temple, September 19, 1981. He was the father and stepfather of five sons and six daughters.



Ira attended the Park Elementary school and North Cache high school in Richmond. Following WWII he graduated from Idaho State College in 1949 with a BS degree in Pharmacy and a strong interest in a research career. This led him to graduate programs in the then, relatively new medical science field of Pharmacology. He subsequently received and MS degree in Pharmacology from the University of Nebraska in 1951, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Physiology from the St Louis School of Medicine, in 1957. His Mentor at Nebraska was the legendary Dr. Harald G.O. HoIck. At St Louis, he was guided by Drs Irwin Nelson and Leonard Procita.



Ira served his country during WWII (1942 1946) and, again, during the Korean War (1951 1952). He served primarily as a member of the U.S. Navy Medical Corps and as a combat medic with the Fourth Division, U.S. Marine Corps. During WWII, he was with this Marine Corps unit during their engagement and recapture of the islands of Roi and Namur, Saipan and Tinian, and Iwo Jima. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds received in these actions.



Ira was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings throughout his life.



He is survived by his wife, Norma and children: Sharon Beardall, Christine Mehr, Kevin Hillyard, James Marziale, Cinni Paxton, Jesse Marziale, Richard Marziale, Eric Hillyard and Kaylene Blakely. He was preceded in death by children, Charlene Lambson and Darlene White.



Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Mapleton White Church, 31 W. Maple. There will be a viewing held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 82 W. 400 N. in Mapleton and at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the services. Interment will be in the Richmond City Cemetery.