Obit of Hill, Emma Alice - Cotton County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 15 Apr 2007 Return to Cotton County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cotton/cotton.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Oakmont Memorial Park--Lafayette CA Hill, Emma Alice Emma Alice Hill Resident of Pleasant Hill Beloved Emma Alice Hill passed away peacefully at home in Pleasant Hill, California in the presence of family members after a life devoted to her family and children. Emma was born on December 22, 1914 in Randlett, Oklahoma. She was one of five children born to Texas and Oklahoma pioneers, Roy and Viola Martin. Emma's early life experience involved living on the family farm in Randlett, located near the Red River, where she tended to animals, made cheese, learned to sew ( taught by her maiden aunt, Nanny) and to fulfill chores and other farm responsibilities . Later, her family moved to Norman, Oklahoma where Emma enjoyed playing tennis and was a gifted academic student. At the age of 15 (after skipping two grades), Emma began studies at the University of Oklahoma. Prior to her 19th birthday, she met and married the love of her life, Gilbert Owen Hill, of Norman, Oklahoma. Emma and Gilbert migrated to California from Oklahoma in 1938. They resided in San Francisco, CA and, with the start of World War II, moved to Mill Valley, CA, while Gilbert worked at Marinship in Sausalito, CA. In 1951 Emma and Gilbert, together with their eight children, moved to Pleasant Hill, CA. Emma worked as a sales clerk for Capwells, a department store, for 22 years. Emma was a loving mother who modeled for her children values that stressed the importance of family, compassion, fairness, honesty and hard work. She maintained high personal standards and underscored for her children the importance of a job "well done." Emma was pragmatic, elegant and reserved in manner, but she also reflected a wry sense of humor, an infectious laugh and genuine personal humility. Emma was an accomplished pianist and filled her home with music, from Brahms to Cole Porter, to Merle Haggard, and conveyed her love of music to her children. She was a life-long Democrat and sustained active interests in solving crossword puzzles, reading, particularly, political biography, history and genealogy. Emma was predeceased by her husband, Gilbert, her mother, father and four siblings. She is survived by her eight children, Robert Hill (Barbara) of Walnut Creek, CA., Marty Hill of Martinez, CA, Louise Hill of Carmichael, CA, Linda Arndt of Pollock Pines, CA, William Hill (Kathi) of Fairfield, CA, John Hill (Linda) of McKinleyville, CA, Loretta Weidhofer (Hans) of Angels Camp, CA, and Lola Richardson (Gary) of Fairfax, Virginia. Emma will be greatly missed by her 28 grandchildren; Tony Hill, Michael Hill, Eric Hill, Tim O'Meara, Meghan Diehl, Marc Hill, Jon Hill, Jim Hill, Mitchell Hill, Melanie Whitehill, Monica Hamdan, Matthew Lewis, Marcea Gerlach, Martin Lewis, Meaghen Lewis, Merrill Lewis, Mark Lewis, Brenda Williams, Cheryl Metzler, Brian Williams, Erica Kendall, Andrew Hill, Emma Hill, Amanda Hill, Josh Lamborn, Sarah Lamborn, Jacob Richardson and David Richardson. Emma was also a loving great grandmother to 44 children. The Hill family thanks Shelley Toutai of the Affordable Health Care Agency for her kind assistance and Susan Chuang, M.D.of Kaiser Permanente adult medicine for her long time, compassionate, personal care. A funeral service will be held Monday, January 8, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Oakmont Memorial Park and Mortuary, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, CA. Viewing/visitation is scheduled for Sunday, January 7, 2007 from 4-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the Hill family requests donations to Kaiser Hospice, 200 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553. Published in the Contra Costa Times on 1/6/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Cotton County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cotton/cotton.htm