SERVICE
Hill & Son Funeral Home in
Appleton City, Missouri on
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at
2:00 p.m.

MINISTERS
Pastor Robert Sefrit,
Pastor Tony Reynolds and
Reverend David Hackett

VISITATION
Hill & Son Funeral Home in
Appleton City, Missouri on
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 from
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

INTERMENT
Appleton City Cemetery in
Appleton City, Missouri

MEMORIAL
David Hill Scholarship Fund

Richard Allen Hill, the son of Glenn H. and Effie E. (Spangler) Hill, was born on December 1, 1948 in Kansas City, Missouri. He passed away at the Cancer Treatment Center of America May 18, 2009, at the age of 60, after a valiant struggle to maintain life.
Rick graduated from Oak Park High School in Gladstone, Missouri in 1967. He played football there and was very modest about his skill, but not his joy of the game and love of one specific team. He then graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas in 1971, and earned his MS from Fort Hays Kansas University in 1974.
Rick grew up in Gladstone, but spent several years in college and working for the Kansas Fish and Game Department before returning to Appleton City in 1978 where he worked with his parents and later became the owner of Hill & Son Funeral Home. Glenn worked hand-in-hand with Rick, teaching him about running the funeral home and serving those in need until Glenn's retirement. Effie has continued to help him with her vast knowledge accumulated through the years and willingness to always be there to help.
He was united in marriage to Jeannette Nelson on February 16, 1985 in Appleton City, Missouri. To this union one son, David Allen Hill, was born. Rick also felt a close kinship during David's elementary and high school years to two young men who spent a great deal of time in his home, Gus Garcia and Noah Watson.
Rick was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Appleton City, serving as Trustee and Administrative Board Chairman for several terms. He served on many committees in the church and had actively been serving as treasurer of the United Methodist Men's group.
Rick was dedicated to his funeral business and serving the public in their time of need. He always did his best to care for a grieving family and many times cancelled his own plans. In the past few years he counted on Effie, Jeannette, and David to try and help him keep things running smoothly. He currently was serving as MFDA district treasurer.
Some highlights of Rick's college life were the two summers spent on the Pribilof Islands in Alaska working in the fur seal harvest and a trip spent in East Africa in Kenya and Tanzania on an East Africa Ecology course while attending Southwestern College.
Rick was a meticulous planner and enjoyed the planning and researching for any trip as much as the trip itself. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, son and close fishing buddies, Dave and Patty Hackett, Harold and Norma Beck, along with various other cherished friends, to Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan Canada on several fishing ventures. Rick always liked to brag about the size and amount of fish he caught in comparison to Doc Beck and once in awhile it was true. Rick, Jeannette and David also went on two wonderful vacations with cousins, Pat and Bill Hedrick, touring their beautiful state of Alaska.
Rick's son, David, was the pride and highlight of his life. They loved fishing, hunting and just being together. He was always trying not to brag too loud or long about him. He was so proud of David's most recent accomplishments and his aspirations at MSU.
His last and most intense planning endeavor all through his illness was an early 25th anniversary trip to Hawaii for Jeannette as well as all of the family to celebrate together. His "trip of a life-time". We will miss him with all our hearts.
Preceding Rick in death was his dad, Glenn, in September of 2008. Survivors include his wife, Jeannette, son David, mother Effie, sister Glenda and husband Kevin Jones, mother-in-law Edna Rhe Nelson, brother-in-law David Nelson and wife Peggy, sister-in-law Lynnette Hunter and husband Joe, nephews Eric Twente and Steven Nelson, and niece Christina Nelson.