YOUR AD HERE »

Zella Hill, former longtime local, dies at 81

Daily Staff Writer

Former longtime local, Zella Lucille Hill, died Aug. 12 in Fruita surrounded by family members. She was 81. She had been living in the Family Health West nursing home for the past month-and-a-half. She had been struggling with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease for the past four years.Hill was born Feb. 12, 1923 in Norton, Kan., to William E. and Ruby Schmidt Heiner.Zella and her husband, Jack, lived in Eagle for more than 50 years before moving to Fruita in 1990. Zella worked for many years at the Serv U Shop, a clothing store in Eagle. Friends and family members said Zella s enjoyed attending her grandson’s ball games and school activities, dancing and sewing.Zella Hill was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marjorie Peach; an infant brother; and a niece and a nephew.She is survived by Jack, her husband of 61 years; three daughters – Lois Schultz and her husband, Ed, of Elbert, Linda Kempton and her husband, Tom, of Eagle, and Sharon Kirkpatrick and her husband, Tom, of Loam; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sisters Florine Fenno of Lusk, Wyo., Velora Hall of Toppenish, Wash., and Naomi Schlutter and her husband, Frank, of Grand Junction; and numerous nieces and nephews.A funeral service was held at the afternoon of Aug. 14 at the Fruita Faith Baptist Church with Pastor Roger Cooper and Hill’s grandson, Jonathan Kempton, officiating. Burial followed at the New Elmwood Cemetery in Fruita.The family suggests any donations be maid to “Main Street” at Family Health West, P.O. Box 130, Fruita, CO, 81521.


Support Local Journalism