By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

Hundreds Attend Funeral for Conservative MP Jim Hillyer

Apr 1, 2016 | 6:18 PM

RAYMOND – Jim Hillyer’s brother, reassured hundreds that his brother’s faith in God and devotion to family would not be forgotten in politics and in the community.

The Hillyer family was joined by around six-hundred others who crowded the sanctuary at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Centre in Raymond this morning.

Jim Hillyer, 41, MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, was found dead in his Parliament Hill Ottawa office on Wednesday, March 23. 

All levels of government attended including former Prime Minister, Stephen Harper and Interim Leader, Rona Ambrose.

Throughout the service family and supporters spoke fervidly regarding Jim as a man who put family and faith at forefront.

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As a family, Jim’s brothers stood tall as they performed an acapella rendition of “Happy Together,” one of Jim’s family songs. They tearfully remembered the man who had asked to sing with his brothers the next time that he saw them.

Fred Hillyer began his eulogy thanking the community and country for the support.

During this time the church was momentarily filled with and sounds of laughter, as Fred fondly reflected on Jim’s childhood, recalling childhood schemes cooked up by Jim in efforts to pay for hockey practices.

Many of the messages were directed to Hillyer’s wife, and four children.

Each brother cited Jim and Livi’s relationship as a source of strength during Jim battle with cancer in 2003. 

The crowd heard solemnly that when diagnosed with cancer Jim lost his job and his home and still “didn’t bat an eye.”

“When faced in a laugh or cry moment Jim always chose to laugh,” Fred said.

All of the speakers referenced their brother’s devotion to his faith. Hillyer served in several missions before going into politics and often offered support to those in need. 

The crowd heard of Jim’s efforts to bridge culture. A banner laid across the casket that read Aapii Sta-milk a name given to him by adopted siblings on the Blood Tribe, a cultural bond that according to Jim’s family was very important to him.

Outside of the church former conservative MP Rick Casson recalled Hillyer’s death as tough on a young family, “It’s pretty tough and the life that he chose to lead is a pretty lonely life at times, so we are here to pay our respects and offer our condolences to the family.”

Conservative MP Gord Brown representing the Ontario riding of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, flew in to Jim’s home county to pay his respects to his friend and colleague.

“It’s really had an impact on our conservative family. Jim was well liked by his colleagues…Jim worked hard for his continuance in Ottawa and it really hit the family hard,” Brown said.

Brown said his office will work with the staff in the Medicine Hat riding to ensure a smooth transition until the by-election takes place, where a new member of parliament will then take over.