Lillian P. Hill

Lillian passed away peacefully at Valley View Hos-

pital surrounded by family on July 14, 2023. She

was the fifth and last child of Frances (Pearson) and

Deyoe Green. She grew up on Rifle Creek and often

reminisced about her carefree, happy, childhood

days. She was born with a love of horses and never

lost it. Raised a rancher’s daughter, she remained in

ranching for most of her life.

Her family moved to Peach Valley, between New

Castle and Silt, when Lillian was a junior in high

school. This ranch ended up being the place where

she and her husband, Daun A. Hill (married in 1950),

would live out their lives together; partners in love,

life, and hard work. They raised their four children,

cattle, and crops on this land bordering the Colora-

do River. Lillian raked hay, irrigated, helped with the

cattle, and any other work that need to be done as

well as her household chores and raising a family.

Daun and Lillian ran their cattle on the Flattops in

the summer and fall. Their children helped out and

learned an appreciation of what Daun called “God’s

Country.” Theirs was a true partnership, and Lillian

only retired from ranching when Daun passed away

in 1992.

Her love of horses lasted for life. Once she retired

from ranching, she enjoyed horseback riding trips

with some of her gal friends...hooking up her pick-

up and trailer, loading up her horse, then meeting up

with the group to explore the many trails in the Col-

orado high country. Riding into Budges Resort and

spending the night, riding on to Trapper’s Lake, those

were just some of her favorites that come to mind.

She also did a fair amount of traveling and camp-

ing with her pickup and camper, was an agile hiker,

and in her down time, enjoyed reading. When riding

horses became too hard on her, she joined her sons,

daughter and families in what has become a favorite

activity for all of them - riding their 4-wheelers and

side by sides, camping and exploring the many ATV

trails in Colorado and other states. Lillian thoroughly

enjoyed this activity for many years before that be-

came too much for her as well. She never tired of see-

ing the countryside though, and up until her death,

rarely turned down anybody’s offer of, “Want to go

for a drive, Mama?” Our mom often said, “I’ve had a

good life.” We couldn’t agree more and are proud of

her independent spirit and the values that she mod-

eled so well and passed on to us.

Lillian is preceded in death by her husband, Daun

Hill; an infant daughter, Teresa Dawn; parents Fran-

ces and Deyoe Green; sisters, Elizabeth Terrell and

Velma Caveny; and brothers, “Dick” Green and Vern

Green.

Survivors include: her children Gary (Karen) Hill,

Gregg Hill, Beverly (Don) Sakis, and Barbara Hill.

She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 20 great

grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, cous-

ins, and other relatives and friends.

Her ashes will be buried alongside her husband,

Daun, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle. Those pay-

ing their respects to her and Daun there will be able

to appreciate the view of the Book Cliffs. They are a

landmark she enjoyed seeing from many of the plac-

es she lived throughout her lifetime, and often com-

mented about that fact.

Our mother, Lillian, asked very little from us, but

one of them was that there be no services. Therefore,

there shall be none.