LUCILE L. HILL

Lucile L. Hill, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and accomplished musician, passed away peacefully at Foxwood Springs Living Center in Raymore, Missouri on April 2, 2012. She was 92. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday May 6, 2012 in Bromwell Lounge at Foxwood Springs Living Center, 1500 West Foxwood Drive, Raymore, MO 64083.


Lucile was born May 7, 1919, in Augusta, Illinois, the daughter of Frank W. and Effie Newell Leonard. She was the next to the youngest of six daughters. After finishing high school, she attended Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois and earned degrees in both music and speech. During WW II, she served in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve as a control tower operator at Cherry Point, North Carolina, earning the rank of Sergeant. In May, 2011, she was honored for her military service at a ceremony conducted by Crossroads Hospice. She married Donald R. Hill on March 28, 1946 at the First Christian Church in Monmouth, Illinois; they celebrated their 60th anniversary prior to his death in November 2006.


Lucile was devoted to her family, her church and her many music students over the years. She taught private piano lessons in her home and instilled the love of music in many, including her children. As a violinist, she was the founding concertmaster of the Warwick Civic Orchestra in Warwick, Rhode Island and remained at that post for 20 years. She sang in and conducted church choirs and orchestras.


Once Lucile and Don retired, they travelled the country for the next eight years in their travel trailer. Settling in Harlingen, Texas, she continued to use her music skills to teach music theory to the residents there as well as play in the hand bell choir. They relocated to Foxwood Springs Living Center in early 1996. She continued with hand bells and singing in the chorus for several years. She also enjoyed participating in the Reader's Theater Group. She and Don were members of Raymore Christian Church.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; and her five sisters: Mary Carty, Okle Kreps, Frances Keithley, Virginia Munson and Margaret Morrow. She is survived by her children, Wayne R. Hill (partner-Kathy Obert) of Cleveland, Ohio and Kathryn M. Hill (husband-Dan Caufield) of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren Todd R. Hill (wife – Lisa Hill) of Grandview Heights, Ohio and Katherine E. Hill of Columbus, Ohio, great-granddaughter Kyra Hill of Grandview Heights, Ohio; and, sister-in-law Marjorie Stone of Dixon, Illinois.


A sample of comments from her caregivers and visitors summarize the impact she had on others' lives:

"I grew to love her.'
"She was a graceful lady."
"No matter what, she always had a smile for me and thanked me for my visit."
"It was an honor knowing her."
"She taught me the value of past generations."
"This is a loss for all of us."
"We loved your mom."


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Crossroads Hospice, 9237 Ward Parkway Suite 300, Kansas, City, MO 64114 or The Foxwood Springs Associates Christmas Fund, c/o Bob Woolrich, Executive Director, 1500 W. Foxwood Drive, Raymore, Missouri 64083.


Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home Raymore, MO (816) 322-5278