Brooks T. Hill

Brooks T. Hill, 87, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, in an area nursing home. Family visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, November 9, 2012, at Johnson’s Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2012, at Harris Avenue Baptist Church with Brother Randy Bush officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Cross Plains Memorial Cemetery in Cross Plains, Texas.

Brooks was born July 22, 1925, at Crosscut, Texas, to Emma Lee Gibson Hill and Levi Larry Hill. He grew up in the Cross Plains area and graduated from Cross Plains High School. As a high school athlete, he lettered in football and basketball. He worked in the oil fields in the Cross Plains area after graduation prior to WWII. A Navy veteran, he served from 1943-1945 in the South Pacific and was discharged as a seaman first class. He was assigned to the USS West Virginia and saw action during World War II in major battles including Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Leyte, the Battle of Surigao Strait, Mindanoa, Menado, and Tokyo. He earned service medals including the Philippine Liberation Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal and for action in five major battles as a primerman on a 16-inch gun.

Brooks married Patsy Smith on November 8, 1945, in Cross Plains and together in the early 50’s they made their home on East Harris Avenue in San Angelo where they raised their family of four children. Mr. Hill retired in 1988 from the City of San Angelo as foreman of the city shop and garage, a job responsible for keeping the city’s wheels moving. He was very active in church work at Harris Avenue Baptist Church serving several terms as president of the Heart of Texas Baptist Men, which was comprised of Baptist men from about 20 counties from San Angelo to Brownwood and Stephenville and from Sterling City to Brady. He was an active member of Harris Avenue Baptist Church’s board of deacons, Sunday School teacher for the church’s married young men’s class, led music at Harris Avenue Baptist Church, and also served as chairman of his church’s kindergarten and day care nursery committee. Mission work included trips to New Mexico and La Hauca, Mexico. He also served on the Board of Directors of Christians In Action and the San Angelo Federal Credit Union. He loved baseball and football and coached YMCA youth sports.

Brooks enjoyed his farm at Pioneer, Texas, and later his cabin at Oak Creek Lake in Blackwell. He was always ready to go fishing whether from the dock at Oak Creek, the Texas Gulf Coast, or with his son in Alaska. Brooks had many friends in San Angelo and at Baptist Memorial and always enjoyed visiting with friends and family, sharing fishing stories and tales of the big one that got away. He loved to sing and his love for music was passed on to all of his children who all share a great talent and love for music.

Brooks was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Pat, his parents, brother Elbert Hill, and sisters Frances Souther and Ruth Thate. He is survived by his children and their families, Don and Debe Hill of San Angelo, Mark Hill and Suzanne Skimek of San Clemente, CA, Jane White of Sacramento, California, and Vernon Hill of San Angelo. Grandchildren include Shane Hill and wife Amy of San Angelo, Jennifer Hill of Abilene, Allison Reynolds and husband Ernie of Waco, Haley Hill of Plainview, RaeAnne Drew and husband Tom of San Angelo, Taylor White and wife Rebekah of Sacramento, California and great grandchildren Hannah Avery Hill and Riley Garrison Hill of San Angelo, Carson Taylor Drew and Molly Jane Drew of San Angelo, Malachi Taylor White of Saramento, California, and Garon Thomas Reynolds of Waco, and his only surviving sister, Imogene Glenn of Platsmith, Nebraska.

Pallbearers will be sons Don Hill, Mark Hill, and Vernon Hill, grandsons, Shane Hill and Taylor White, Frances Brashear, Ernie Reynolds and Tom Drew. Harris Avenue Baptist Church deacons will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity. The family expresses its sincere thanks to the Baptist Memorial staff on Division 5 and Baptist Hospice staff for the loving care and kindness extended to Brooks. Thank you for taking such good care of our Father and Pepaw.

Family and friends may sign an onlineguestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com