William "John" C. Hill's Obituary
William (John) C Hill of Kilgore Texas passed away peacefully on March 28, 2023. John was born in Poteau, OK in 1936 and grew up in Tulsa, OK. where he graduated from the University of Tulsa with a chemical engineering degree. While at TU he met the love of his life, Ann Doerrie. Theirs was a 60-year love story unmatched by any Hollywood script. They married while students and, in 1959, moved to Longview when John joined Texas Eastman Company. In 1985, they moved to Kilgore, a town they loved for the rest of their days. They enjoyed the country life with their many treasured canine companions, Rooter, Deacon, Casey, Corky and finally Tohbi. John was very active. He enjoyed competitive skeet shooting and was a member of many area gun clubs. He was inducted into the Texas Skeet Shooters Hall of Fame in 2008 with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rooting on the Dallas Mavericks was always a favorite pastime for both he and Ann, with one of his favorite stories being the time Dirk Nowitzki touched Ann's hand and she vowed never to wash it again! On any day of the week, you could find John at the Kilgore Mercantile store enjoying some ice cream with his many friends. Throughout the years, he was a proud and staunch supporter of the engineering department at his alma mater, the University of Tulsa. John was a kind, gentle and patient man with a wonderfully dry sense of humor. He was immensely generous and a true pleasure to be around. He will be dearly missed and always remembered.
John was predeceased by his wife Ann, who passed away in 2018, his parents C. D. and Mildred Hill, his two brothers Robert and Charles Hill, and his grandniece, Melissa Jenks. He is survived by his many nieces and nephews: Bobbie Nichols and her husband Brent of Louisville, KY; Julie Hill of Corinth, TX; Becky Jenks of Glenpool, OK; Brenda Wilson and her husband Russell of Arlington, TX; Beth Oakes of Jenks, OK; nephews Curtis Hill and his wife Mona of Tulsa, OK; Jeff Hill and his wife Elena of Fort Worth, TX; Danny Bresette and his husband Richard Bresette of Queensbury, NY; Charles Hill Jr. of Tulsa, OK; grandnieces and grandnephews Samantha Looschen of Georgetown, TX; Brock Nichols and Breanne Nichols of Louisville, KY; Kaitlyn Wilson and Michael Wilson of Arlington, TX; Tyler Oakes and Rachel Oakes of Jenks, OK.
A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Longview, TX on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 10:00am. His final resting place will be at Rosewood Park Cemetery Serenity Garden in Longview, TX. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
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