James Hill

James Monroe Hill

February 17, 1928 ~ September 27, 2021

James Monroe Hill of Liberty, Utah passed peacefully at home on September 27, 2021. He was with family throughout his transition. He had achieved the graceful age of 93. Jim was a devoted husband, adored father, grandfather and great-grandfather. With a twinkle in his blue eyes and a chuckle in his heart, his words of love and reassurance were always comforting.

Born in Rosedale, Oklahoma on February 17, 1928 to James Washington Monroe Hill and Frances Elizabeth Hill (Forbis), Jim was the youngest of five children. Raised on a sharecropper’s farm, when not working in the fields, he would adopt the animals living around him. Having farm animals as pets taught him about the fragility and beauty of life. He learned at a young age to appreciate every moment and the simplest of pleasures. One of the memories he spoke of often was heading into the garden with a salt shaker to savor the family garden vegetables for lunch. He lived on the farm until he was 18 then followed his brothers and sisters to Northern California, where he worked in the shipyards for several years. He then moved to DeQueen, Arkansas working in a creosote treatment plant where he met the love of his life, Leeta Daley. Leeta worked there too, and Jim was dared by friends, to see if he could get a date with the pretty girl in the office. He took the dare and won Leeta’s heart.

Jim and Leeta married in 1949 and after the birth of, the first of four, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona where they raised their four children; Debra, Larry, Linda and Alan. He was cherished by his kids and always a presence in their lives with love, guidance and understanding. Jim worked at Daley Electric as a motor winder for more than 50 years, until he retired in 1993. He loved music, played guitar, sang with a resonant baritone voice, rode his bike for up to 20 miles a day, and began golfing toward the end of his working career.

In 1995, Jim and Leeta moved to North Ogden, Utah. After Leeta passed in 2010, he moved to live with his son Larry and daughter-in-law, Anne Toombs in Liberty, Utah. It was there that Jim truly flourished. He became the friendly neighbor who would wave and smile or strike up a conversation while on his morning walks. At the local gym, he took aerobics classes from a kindred spirit Heidi and befriended everyone in his classes. He loved where he lived and could often be seen driving his ATV along North Fork Road, picking up trash or, working with his son reading water meters. Dad loved challenges and seeing a job completed well. Some of his passions were clearing wooded areas for trails, weed whacking and mowing the lawn, helping to stack four cords of wood every Fall, riding his mountain bike and driving his car. A natural tinkerer and problem solver, he devised a way to hit golf balls into a blanket in the basement during the winter months in Utah. He developed some of his most cherished friendships while golfing at the White Barn in Ogden, Utah with Barnie, Charles and Jim. He continued golfing into his 90s, truly savoring the last chapter of his life, all with the heart of a child. He leaves a wake of love that spreads far and wide. Jim moved through life with joy, dignity and humility. Always a beacon of love, his deep faith guided him that attracted various teachers and fellow travelers along his path, all of whom he cherished. He even knew Santa Claus! A true gentleman, he was always a country boy at heart. Dad will be missed by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his children: Debra Grimm of Phoenix, Arizona; Larry Hill of Liberty, Utah; Linda Diefenbach of Middletown, Maryland; Alan Hill of Lakewood, Colorado; grandsons: Neil Grimm, Elton Grimm, Eric Grimm, Erik Diefenbach; and great-grandchildren: Aria Grimm and Rayce Grimm.

Dad always lived looking forward not back. It was his request that no services be held but rather that his family, friends and acquaintances move forward with their lives, expressing joy and love in every way possible.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

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