Leo Hill

Hayden “Leo” Hill was born April 24, 1929 and passed away April 9, 2018, fifteen days prior to his 89th birthday. He was the oldest of four sons born to Hayden Hill and Pauline (Middleton) Hill in Mountain Grove, Missouri. When Leo was 8 years old, his father died and his mother married Richard Moore and Leo gained a step-sister and two step-brothers. After his father died and his mother had to go to work, Leo stayed with his Grandpa and Grandma Middleton and was raised by them.

In 1950, Leo married Fern Fry and they purchased a small farm north of Mountain Grove. Their first daughter was born while living there. Leo of course wanted a boy, but Sherry was soon his pride and joy. His second daughter was born in 1956. Leo had hoped again for a boy, but as before Sandra was just as precious as his first little girl.

When Leo took a job driving a truck from the gulf to the Canadian border, he was gone a lot so he moved his family into Mountain Grove. Several years later he sold his truck and bought a backhoe and worked with it until he retired around 1990.

In 1964, Leo fulfilled a long time dream and took flying lessons. He obtained his pilot’s license and bought a small Cessna plane. He had a landing field on his brother-in-law Phillip Fry’s farm. He flew in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Ohio.

Upon retiring he and Fern bought a camper and boat. They enjoyed camping and fishing in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He could always catch fish.

Leo was a good mechanic and always had time to help a neighbor, and enjoyed helping on the Fry farm. He didn’t like to be idle. He spent a lot of time in his shop being creative.

He loved to play and entertain his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even making toys for them.

Leo was a member and attended Willow Springs Free Will Baptist Church most of his life.

Leo was preceded in death by his wife, Fern, in August 2017; father, Hayden Hill; mother, Pauline Moore; step-father, Richard Moore; three brothers, Wayne Allen Hill, Earl Leroy Hill, and Clyde Hill; step-sister and brother-in-law, Eva and Joe Babcock; step-brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Peggy Moore; and sister-in-law, Doris Moore.

He is survived by two daughters, Sherry and husband, Gary Raney, of Springfield, and Sandra and husband, David McGowan, of Waterford, Michigan; four grandchildren, Christie and husband, Paul Windisch, of Nixa, Amber and husband, Gabe Fleer, of Willard, Zachary and wife, Angela McGowan, of Waterford, Michigan, and Tasa McGowan of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren, Ashlyn McGowan, Hayden Windisch, Brecken and Brynlee Fleer; and two step-great-grandchildren, Aleah Rivera and Devon Avis; step-brother, Lloyd Moore of the Kansas City area; brother-in-law, Wayne Fry; and sister-in-law Dorothy Middleton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Doctor Doyle Hill, Doctor Hoerscghen and staff of the Mountain Grove Dialysis Center, Home Health of the Ozarks and Hospice Compassus for the wonderful care they provided Leo.