Madonna Sue (Barr) Hilligoss, 73, died at 2:58 p.m. on Friday, August 11, 2017 at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. She was born February 6, 1944 in Mattoon, IL the daughter of the late Hubert and Iva (White) Barr. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL. Mrs. Hilligoss was secretary for Illinois State Senator Robert Mitchler and Legislative aid for speaker of the house, Robert Blair. She also was Administrative Assistant for the director of Illinois Fire commission. Later in life she was a partner with her husband who owned Browns Chicken Restaurant and later The Shoe Factory, she also worked at Dillard’s Department Store as a Sales Associate and retired as a teacher’s aid from the Alton School District. She had a great love of pets and enjoyed rescuing them. On February 26, 1965 in Springfield, IL she married Robert Hilligoss and he survives. Also surviving are two sons; Kevin Hilligoss (Michelle) of Alton and Ryan Hilligoss (Kimberly) of Cortland, IL, four grandchildren; Graham Hilligoss and Aurora Hilligoss of Cortland, IL and Audrey Hilligoss and Annalynn Hilligoss of Godfrey, one sister; Glenda Wikoff (Forest Wikoff) of Decatur, IL. She was preceded in death by one son, Sean Hilligoss. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton with Jay McCurdy officiating. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to www.MichaelJFox.org or Lightofday.org or 5 A’s Animal Shelter. Additional information and online guest book may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
