Shirley Hill

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

Jean moved to Superior, Montana with her mother and brother in 1945. In 1949, Jean married Ernest Lyle Phillips and moved to Missoula, Montana. 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. Jean 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 8 ½ 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 preceeded in death by her parents, step-dad 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, ID, and Ralph (Anita) Parkin of Superior, MT; sons Doug (Grace) Phillips of Whitefish, MT, and Roger (Tammy) Phillips of Spokane, WA; daughters Lori Medley of Culpeper, VA, and Betty Jean (Stephen) Spealman of Wasilla, AK; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Jean is also survived by stepchildren Jerry (Cindy) Hill, Debbie (Tod) Morse, and Duane Hill.

Funeral Service to be held Saturday January 27th, at 10:00 am at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth Street Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814. There will also be a Celebration of Life service held on Saturday January 27th at 2:00 pm at The Athol Community Center, 30355 3rd Street 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.