Tony Hillerman Dies at 83

Tony Hillerman, the award-winning author of many works of fiction and non-fiction – primarily the Leaphorn/Chee novels – passed away yesterday. He was 83, and the cause of death was pulmonary failure. According to the AP, Hillerman’s daughter, Anne Hillerman, said her father’s health had been

declining in the last couple years and that he was at Presbyterian

Hospital in Albuquerque when he died at about 3 p.m yesterday. He is survived by his wife, Marie and six children.

Deanne Stillman has a wonderful tribute to Hillerman at LA Observed, as does Henry Kisor, and Marilyn Stasio writes the obituary for the New York Times. The LA Times reprints a 1988 profile of Hillerman by Charles Champlin.

UPDATE: More tributes roll in from the Christian Science Monitor, Jacket Copy, Matthew Hansen, Art Taylor, Stephen Bodio, Rose Mary, and Prairie Sun Rising.