Biography

Dorothy “Louise” Hill age 91, passed away February 4,2010 at the Nyssa Gardens Care Facility in Nyssa, Oregon, where she had resided for the past 5 ½ years. Louise was born 15 April 1918 in Lamar County Texas to Leander & Lydia Ferguson Westerman. In spite of a very impoverished upbringing, she was determined, ambitious, and driven to improve her life. She married her high school sweet heart, Stanley Lee Hill on August 24, 1936 in Pueblo, Colorado. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in 2004, just prior to Stanley’s death. After their first son, Carl Lee was born in Colorado; they moved to Adrian, Oregon with Stanley’s parents and worked on family farm. They eventually purchased their own farm on Mendiola Road, where they resided most of their live. Louise was a wonderful homemaker, with skills in sewing, knitting, canning, gardening and always had the whitest wash on the line. Later in her life she became an avid genealogist. Doing not only family research, but wrote several historical articles on Malheur County and published a book “The Founding of Adrian, OR”. Louise and Stanley copied headstone data from the cemeteries of Malheur County and a copy now resides in the Oregon State Genealogical Library, State Historical Library, County Library, Nyssa Library & Nyssa LDS Library. Louise & Stanley were founding members of the Adrian Presbyterian Church and members of the Malheur Historical Society. She also belonged to a Home Extension Club and Quilt Club. Louise was a 4-H leader for many years during the 1950-70. She is survived by her son, Carl Lee and wife, Jinny of Adrian; David and wife, Elaine, of Parma: daughter, Nancy and husband Ed Hanson of Central Point, Oregon; one sister Jo Aliene Caudle of Renton, Washington; many nieces and nephews; 9 grandchildren, 14great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, 3 step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, her parents, 3 sisters, 5 brothers. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Hilltop Memorial Cemetery in Nyssa. Services are under the direction of Lienkaemper Chapel, Nyssa. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Two Rivers Community Park, Adrian, Or. c/o Lienkaemper Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Ontario, Oregon 97914