Services:
Per Jim's request, we will celebrate his life with an informal barbecue luncheon at Hesperia Hall, 51602 Bryson-Hesperia Road, Bradley, CA 93426, at 12 noon on Saturday, August 27, 2011.

James Kirk Hill passed away at his home on Friday, August 19th at age 90, just short of his 91st birthday. Jim was born in Minnesota on September 26, 1920, the oldest son of John and Agnes Hill. He was raised on a farm and worked the farm behind horses before tractors became the norm. He was always fond of telling stories of the horses and the many pranks he pulled on his neighbors and family. He also worked for a local creamery and tells his family stories of how he would deliver milk to households and collect money for his boss, sometimes making up the difference when the customer couldn't pay him on time. He came to California in 1939 with three other buddies to try their luck at jobs in the "city" of Los Angeles. He worked in a Burbank machine shop, where he met Gwendolyn June Boss who was the shop's bookkeeper. They married in 1941. Jim continued with the machine shop until he joined the army in 1943, leaving June with one son, Gary and son Steve on the way. A daughter, Linda, would follow after his honorable discharge in 1945.

Many weekends of searching for a new location to start a business resulted in moving his family to Hanford in 1946. Hill's Machine and Pump shop fulfilled his dream of opening his own business and he ran that until 1963. Many customers and employees of that business are still among his friends. He then "retired" to a ranch on 12th Avenue in Hanford and began his part-time business of farming and harvesting grain throughout the valley. He drove his own truck with Danell Bros. Silage Harvesting for a couple of years then decided he'd had enough of the heat in the summer and the fog in the winter, so in 1980 bought a small cattle ranch in the Bradley area between Naciamento and San Antonio Lakes. He and June worked on the ranch on weekends, eventually building a three story house with a large deck to take in a beautiful view of his land, his tractor collection, the cattle and surrounding mountains. He ran a small herd of cattle continually until a year ago after suffering from cancer. He never quit collecting and rebuilding antique tractors, actually working on them as if it were a full-time job. One that he loved with all his heart.

Jim's brother, John, preceded him in death and Jim's wife, June of 55 years, passed away in 1997 as well as his oldest son, Gary in the same year. He is survived by his brother, Tom of Medford, Minnesota, sister, Betty Kelly, of Tallahassee, Florida, son Steve and daughter-in-law Diana and daughter, Linda, and son-in-law Danny Danell, and daughter-in-law Susan Hill, all of Hanford. His grandchildren include Steve Hill, I, and Leah of Fresno, Kimberly Hill of Fresno, Beau and Rochelle Hill of Hanford, Jackie and Mark Miller of Portland, Oregon, Rance and Denise Danell of Hanford, Debbie and Eric Greidanus of Visalia and Ryan and Amy Hill of Hanford and many nieces and nephews throughout the United States. Great grandchildren: Alysia Turner, Steve Hill, II, and Andrea Hill, Demi and RJ Danell, Shae and Trent Greidanus, Brak, Morgan and Beau Hill, Avery and Logan Hill and Nicklaus and Lauren Miller.

Jim is also survived by his loving partner Ruth Lopes, her sons Marty and Tom and their families whom he enjoyed and loved as his own family. Ruth left King City to join households with Jim in 1999 and he counted his blessings to have had her and her extended family share his life for so long.

Jim was active in Hesperia Hall functions, providing the barbecue wood for years for activities and fund raisers held at the Hall. He loved the people of the area and enjoyed their social activities.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to Hesperia Hall, c/o Lois Lindley, 75313 Interlake Road, Bradley, CA 93426 or to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Jolon, California.