Judith Morris Hill

Judith Morris Hill, age 87, of Concord, NH passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, September 12th surrounded by her family and favorite feline companion, Shazzar. Judy is survived by her daughter, Martha McNiff, of Sunapee, NH, two sisters Ann Dangerfield and Laura Arksey, and five granddaughters Laura Voigt, Leigh Brady, Paige Gibson, Amy Gibson, and Addy McNiff. Judy is predeceased by her loving husband, Adams Sherman Hill and daughter, Alison Hill.

Judy was born on June 17th, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan to Alvin and Miriam Morris. Judy’s early years were filled by her love of animals and the outdoors. Her sister recalls one of her favorite memories when Judy was four. One summer while visiting her grandparents, there was a young chicken who was being picked on by the others, its head red and naked where the feathers had been pulled out. Judy tamed it to ride on her arm. She would hold it out to pick grasshoppers off the stucco wall of the house. Soon, its feathers grew back, and it became a fine, thriving chicken, her companion for the whole summer. This memory perfectly embodies Judy’s empathic soul for all of God’s creation.

After Judy graduated from East High School in the summer of 1953 in Salt Lake City, where she had later moved from Iowa, she attended Westminster College and Whitworth College in Spokane, WA where she earned a degree in Journalism. Professionally, Judy worked as a feature writer for the Salt Lake Tribune before meeting her husband, Sherman Hill, and settling in Yakima, WA where they raised their daughters, Martha and Alison. Judy loved family time on the Olympic Peninsula, spending time with Sherman biking and kayaking the San Juan Islands, and adventures to their family cabin on the Chinook Pass.

In 2000, Judy and Sherman retired to Concord, MA where they immersed themselves in the intellectual and cultural riches of the Boston area and especially enjoyed being close to daughters and granddaughters. Judy moved to Concord, NH in 2022 where she immediately made many friends and continued doing all the things she loved.

Throughout her life, Judy dedicated much time helping those in need. She is remembered for her social and environmental conscience and the many ways she made a difference, volunteering tirelessly to help her local community in their recycling efforts, making time to help community members with disabilities, engaging with the League of Women Voters, and doing each joyfully. Judy’s faith and church activities throughout her life were extremely important to her and defined her foundations in raising her family and supporting each community where she lived. All who knew Judy spoke of her joy and love for those around her, always looking for new ways to make everyone feel cherished.

A memorial service is planned for October 24th at 2:00 PM at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Environmental Defense Fund.