Abner Cleveland Hiler Jr.

Abner Cleveland Hiler Jr, (“Ab” or “Grandy” to everyone who knew him) died on May 13, 2023, in Lexington, Kentucky, at 99 years of age. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky to Abner Cleveland Hiler, Sr. and Mary Ruth Frodge Hiler on August 4, 1923. Predeceasing Ab was his loving wife of 47 years, Jane Hardwick Hiler as well as brothers Clarence, Omar, Paul, Kenneth, John, a sister, Virginia Wainscott, and his great grandson, Mason James Easley.

Ab was a member of the Lafayette High School 1941 State Championship Basketball team and during WWII served in the United States Navy Pacific Theater. Ab owned and operated Penn Feed Company in Lexington, Kentucky. He was also the owner and breeder of Wop Wop, winner of the Fayette Handicap at Keeneland in 1985.

He was an avid reader of history and a sportsman. One of his favorite pastimes was fishing for the elusive Muskie at Cave Run Lake. He loved to cook and entertain at his farms in Bath and Mercer County and his New Year’s Day soup and pie gatherings were notorious among friends and family.

Over the last two decades, Ab resided in Woodford County and raised acres of sunflowers. When not teaching his grandchildren to shoot, fish, and blaze trails, Ab harvested sunflowers to gift to Cardinal Hill Hospital for patient rooms. Ab was honored as a UK Fellow and served as a past Vice-President of the National Hay Association. He was never far from a television playing either a football or basketball game or both- a true UK fan.

Our Grandy always had a good dog by his side, and a story to tell. He is survived by a beloved sister, Eleanor Ruth Hiler, his two children -- daughter Charlotte Hiler Easley (Daryl) of Versailles, Kentucky, and son Brian Hiler (Carol) Pawleys Island, South Carolina; his 3 grandchildren – Ramsey Steele Easley Watson Versailles, Kentucky, Alee Hiler Farris (Davis) Peachtree City, Georgia, Ben Easley (Lindsey) St. George, South Carolina; and his 6 great-grandchildren -- Penelope, Everett, and Abraham Farris, Baylor and Callen Easley, and Eleanor Grace Watson.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, along with a burial at Hillcrest Memorial in Lexington. Memorials can be made to the Woodford Humane Society or The Secretariat Center.