Shirley Jean Hill, 86

Shirley Jean Hill passed away peacefully on Jan. 16, 2018, at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Hayden, Idaho. “Jean,” as she was known to friends and family, was born on Oct. 2, 1931, in Glen Ellyn, Ill., to Royal Joseph Armbrust and Mildred Edna “Peggy” Katz.

Jean moved to Superior, Mont., with her mother and brother in 1945. In 1949, Jean married Ernest Lyle Phillips and moved to Missoula. She was active in Cub Scouts, PTA and Civil Defense. They moved with five children to Athol, Idaho, in 1968, where she was active in 4-H and the citizen band radio club. Jean and Lyle divorced in 1970.

Jean married Loyd Hill in 1974. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, flowers, crocheting, camping, fishing, puzzles, Gonzaga basketball, going to church and spending time with her family.

After her children were grown she decided to run for Athol City Council and won. After 18 months as a council member, she was appointed as mayor of Athol and served for eight and a half years. While in office, she worked to get a basketball court installed for the youth in Athol, and successfully lobbied in Boise for a grant to improve the water supply in Athol by installing a new water tower.

While in office, Jean went back to school and proudly received her GED and Idaho State High School Diploma at the age of 58.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; stepdad Don Parkin; three brothers, Robert Armbrust, Richard Parkin and Roger Armbrust; husband Loyd Hill; stepson Roy Hill and daughter Carol Spear.

She is survived by brothers Kenneth (Ardell) Parkin of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Ralph (Anita) Parkin of Superior, Mont.; sons Doug (Grace) Phillips of Whitefish, Mont., and Roger (Tammy) Phillips of Spokane, Wash.; daughters Lori Medley of Culpeper, Va., and Betty Jean (Stephen) Spealman of Wasilla, Alaska; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Jean is also survived by stepchildren Jerry (Cindy) Hill, Debbie (Tod) Morse and Duane Hill.

Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. There will also be a Celebration of Life service held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan, 27, 2018, at The Athol Community Center, 30355 Third St. Athol, ID 83801.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Schneidmiller Hospice House for the outstanding, compassionate care that Jean received at the end of her life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Hospice of North Idaho. English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com to see Jean’s online memorial.