Philip Stephen Hilliard died on Oct. 10 at his home in Halifax. He was 85.

Phil was born on June 12, 1931 in Quincy to Perley Hilliard and Jessie (Parker) Hilliard. He was one of seven children.

He was raised in Newton and spent summers on Martha’s Vineyard at the family summer home on Waban Park in Oak Bluffs. He graduated from Newton High School in 1949. As a young man Phil served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. During the Korean War he was stationed in Germany, where it was his duty to train German shepherd military dogs. After an honorable discharge, he married Katherine MacKiernan on Jan 9, 1960 at Calvary Baptist Church in Dorchester.

They were married for 56 years and since 1961 they resided in Halifax, where they raised their large family.

Phil worked in the family candy business for most of his life and was a talented candy maker, creating old fashioned candy as well as venturing into several of his own candy making businesses. He had a lifelong love of art and after suffering a stroke at the age of 60 he learned to paint with his non-dominant hand, creating hundreds of beautiful landscape oil paintings. He most recently enjoyed weekly painting classes at both Halifax and Middleboro Senior Centers.

He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Duxbury. He served on the Historical Society of Halifax and the Kiwanis Club of Halifax, as well as on the school building committee. He also sang in the choir at Calvary Baptist Church in Hanson.

Philip will be fondly remembered by many for his kind and infectious smile, his love of a good meal, his strong faith, artistic talent and the love of his wife, children and grandchildren.

He is survived by Katherine Hilliard, his wife of 56 years; seven children, nine grandchildren and an anticipated great-grandchild in November. His children are Stephen Hilliard, his wife Marlene, and their son Alexander; Peter Hilliard and his son Joshua; Laura Hilliard and her children Megan and Mitchell Lowe of Oak Bluffs, Paul Marr Hilliard, his children Kristina and Nolan Hilliard, and his wife Zoe Marr-Hilliard and their daughter Syzygy Marr-Hilliard; Jennifer Towler, her husband Brett and their children Katherine and William Towler; Matthew Hilliard; and Sara Smestad and her husband Scott of Chilmark.

His is preceded in death by his siblings Douglas Hilliard, Ruth Hilliard, Elizabeth (Hilliard) Stacy, and Alan Hilliard. He is survived by his sisters Dorcas (Hilliard) Brown, and Christine (Hilliard) Wilson.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend services including a family graveside service on Friday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Halifax Central Cemetery at 60 Hemlock Lane in Halifax. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Duxbury, 2 Tremont Street in Duxbury, on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m., with refreshments to follow.