Obituary of Homer E. Hill

Homer Edward Hill of Lindon, Colorado, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at the age of 92. His health had been failing for the past few years, but he would rally often and always enjoyed visits from his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. “The righteous man walks in his integrity. Blessed are his children after him.” Proverbs 20:7 Homer was born February 3, 1930, near Vega, Texas, to Homer Denson and Vergie Atchley Hill. He was the oldest of three sons, growing up on a farm south of Vega. His grandparents homesteaded near Hereford, Texas. Homer attended Ford Country Elementary School. He had the joy of sharing his memories of that school and his home place with his daughters several years ago when they traveled with him to the Texas panhandle. Homer graduated from Vega (TX) High School in 1947. He enjoyed attending many class reunions at Vega over the years. He attended two years of college at West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas, before returning home to farm. While in college, Homer met his first wife, Alice Morgan, at a Sadie Hawkins dance. Homer and Alice were married July 29, 1950, in Canadian, Texas. They lived near the family home at Vega until they moved to a leased farm north of Genoa, Colorado in 1951. His parents would follow them north to Colorado and settled on the family farm south of Lindon, north of Arriba, just north of the Washington/Lincoln County line. Homer and Alice lived north of Genoa where they began to raise their young family. Daughter Martha was one month old when they moved from Texas. Daughters, Carol and Jean, and son, Homer Edward Jr. (Ed), joined the family over the next few years. The family moved to his parents’ farm south of Lindon in 1959. Homer was a farmer and rancher all his life. He had dairy cattle while they lived near Genoa. In later years, they raised chickens and sold eggs, raised hogs, and always had horses. He farmed wheat for many years but his love for the farm and country was raising beef cattle. He was a cowboy, and enjoyed riding his horse to round up the cattle. Homer’s Christian faith was the foundation for his life. He committed his life to Christ at the age of 16, when he attended a revival with his family. He lived his faith and passed that faith to generations to follow: to his children and grandchildren, to boys and girls in his Sunday School classes at the Bethel Church of the Brethren, north of Arriba. He served for 15 years as chairman of the church board. Homer was a dedicated servant in the church more than 50 years and a member until his passing. “An earthly Dad who is led by a heavenly Father is a priceless treasure.” Homer was an active member of Lions Club International for 70 years. He joined as a member of the Genoa Lions Club from 1952-1959. He was a charter member of the Woodlin Lions Club in 1961. He served the Lions Club as club president, zone chairman, council chairman and District Governor. He was recognized for having a perfect attendance for 44 years. He was elected to be an International Director for two years (1989-1991) and chairman of the board in 1991-1992. During that time, he and Alice traveled to Sweden, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada, and several places in the United States. They traveled (flew) 101,000 miles to meetings in the two years. That did not include the meetings that he drove to. He served on several boards of directors within the Lions Club organization including the Rocky Mountain Eye Bank and the Colorado Lions Foundation. He also received the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor granted by the association to its members. He was also a Melvin Jones Fellow for his contributions and dedicated humanitarian services. He served the Woodlin School District as a school board member for 12 years. He was a long-time member of the Washington County Cattlemen’s Association, in which he served as president for two years. Alice, his wife of 48 years, passed away unexpectedly in 1999. On February 18, 2001, Homer married Patricia Leonard of Karval, Colorado. He and Pat have lived at the Hill family farm for the past twenty-one years. They enjoyed their golden years doing some traveling, often with Pat’s granddaughter, Ashleigh, accompanying them. Many of those travels were for Lions Club events. There were also hunting and fishing excursions. They attended rodeos across a large area and watched many more rodeos on TV. Family gatherings were a highlight, with Homer cooking chuckwagon style for a number of those. A big favorite was the annual Leonard Family Labor Day get-together at Karval. Homer continued the ranching operation until recently. Brandings were a busy, but special, time of friends and family coming from a wide area to share in the work and enjoy the fellowship. Pat’s sons would often come to help, and then Homer would join in the brandings at their places. He would also ask other local young men and women to come help and learn the old western way. Neighboring farmers and ranchers were a source of much help to Homer as the years went on. Homer is preceded in death by his first wife, Alice, his parents, and his brothers Howard and Jimmy Joe. He is survived by his wife, Pat; his children, Martha Hill Johnson of Colorado Springs, CO, Carol (Ken) Fuchs of Blaine, WA, Jean (Dennis) Peck of Cripple Creek, CO, and Ed (Laura) Hill of Norton, OH; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Sunny Hill of Canadian, TX and sister-in-law, Marie Hill of Flagler, CO. Services will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at the Bethel Community Center (Bethel Church of the Brethren), located 9 miles north of Arriba, CO. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The Celebration of Life service will be from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. There will be a short graveside service at the Arriba cemetery at 2:30 pm. Psalm 15:1-3 “O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his friend.” In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider donating to one of these organizations so loved by Homer: Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank Online donations: https://corneas.org Checks mailed to: 1675 Aurora Court Mail Stop F751 Aurora, CO 80045 Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Online donations: https://www.calfarley.org Checks mailed to: 600 SWE 11th Ave Amarillo, TX 79101-3228