A celebration of life for Patrice Hilton, 72, of Ruston, LA will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Ruston. Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM with the service following at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow with a private graveside at Cook Cemetery in Ruston, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston, LA.

Patrice Hilton passed away in her home on November 1, 2024, after a battle with colon cancer. Born in Ruston on June 22, 1952, to Hayward and Patsy Hilton, Patrice attended A.E.Phillips Lab School and Ruston High. She moved to Weatherford, Texas during her senior year of high school and then returned to Louisiana Tech University. Patrice always knew she wanted to be a teacher and graduated with her bachelor’s, master’s and Plus 30 from Louisiana Tech. Patrice spent 46 years as an educator at Hillcrest Elementary in Ruston where she taught almost every grade and served as the coordinating teacher. For the last half of her career, Patrice was the principal at Hillcrest. She loved her Hillcrest family of teachers and students and arrived bright and early in the mornings to make sure the school was ready for the day. It was not uncommon to see her red VW bug parked in front of the school by 5:30 AM. She retired from Hillcrest in the summer of 2020. Throughout the last year, Patrice fought her cancer diagnosis with great faith that the Lord would take care of her and maintained the most positive attitude despite how she was feeling.

Patrice loved spending time with her family. She had four children–Heather, Hilton, Holly and Haley–and seven grandchildren–Hannah, Bryce, Hagen, Hunter, Brooks, Crosby and Emma. Known as “Trice” to her grandchildren, she enjoyed having them come over for Sunday lunch and going to their events. Patrice loved working in her yard, running to Walmart and TJ Maxx, and watching the Game Show Network. She was an avid collector of Peanuts and dachshund memorabilia. Her home was decked out for each holiday season both inside and out. Patrice loved going to the beach and spending time by the pool in the summers. A lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Ruston, Patrice served in many positions over the years but particularly loved being part of the choir. She will be remembered for sharing her brownies and cookies complete with seasonal sprinkles and napkins around the community.

Patrice was preceded in death by her father, Hayward Hilton, and her granddaughters, Baileigh and Brooklyn Benoit.

She is survived by her children, Heather Reeder (Chad), Hilton Hay (Jennifer), Holly Hay, and Haley Wynne (Michael); seven grandchildren, Hannah and Hunter Reeder, Hagen Hay, Bryce and Brooks Benoit, and Crosby and Emma Wynne; our father, Tommy Hay; mother, Patsy Hilton; brother and sister-in-law, David and Susan Hilton, and numerous aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Hilton, Chad Reeder, Michael Wynne, Garrison Hilton, Ethan Hilton and Braden Hilton. Honorary pallbearers are Bryce Benoit, Hagen Hay, Hunter Reeder and Tommy Hay.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Patrice Hilton Memorial Scholarship for Future Educators (Origin Bank) or the First Baptist Church Choir.

Her family wants to thank Amy Wilson, Lacy Youngblood and LyQuinta Fegans of Premier Hospice for their support and guidance during the last few weeks. They also want to thank Dr. David Osafo and staff of Green Clinic, the staff of Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Dr. Ross Bland of St. Francis Medical Center for their care of Patrice over the past year. She was always so appreciative of the doctors, nurses and staff who provided care for her.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

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