George Hill

George Avion Hill

(April 2, 1937 – December 29, 2022)

George was born on April 2, 1937, in Waco, Texas, to Julia Malissie (DeBusk) Hill and Lenore Hill.

He attended school in the Portales and La Joya, New Mexico, school systems. In the 10th grade, he joined the National Guard. He left school in the 11th grade to enlist in the United States Army. His time in the service was spent in Ft Ord, California; Aberdeen, Maryland; Ft. Sill. Oklahoma;  and Korea. He learned how to work with explosives during his time in Maryland. After he left the army, he returned to Portales, NM, and started moving houses with his stepdad, Joe Cunningham.

He married Mary Virgina Carlisle on December 23, 1958, in Portales, NM.

He and Mary had four children: James Duwain, Jo Beth, Jennifer Blair, and Jaynee KaLee. They took in and cared for several foster children from 1967-1973.

George and his family made numerous moves to many locations for his employment. His employment history included full-service gas station work, farming, milk delivery for Clardy Campbell, butcher for Swifts, irrigation sprinkler assembly and sales, management for Allsup’s, and some oil field work. Later, he felt he found his niche in life as a truck driver for Southwest Canners in Portales, New Mexico, hauling Coca Cola products.  He also dispatched for Werner Trucking Enterprises in Omaha, Nebraska, and Phoenix, Arizona, until he retired in 2000 because of health issues. George and Mary moved to Texico, New Mexico in 2001.

George was a "jack of all trades" and could build or fix just about anything. He loved woodworking and was very creative with it. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and all kinds of sports. He coached little league baseball and basketball. He was also a Boy Scout Master. He enjoyed gardening and especially loved growing peppers for his famous chili.

He is a member of Waypoint Christian Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Julia Cunningham, three brothers: Kenneth Hill, Raymond Hill, and Walter Hill; a half-brother Johnny Hill; three sisters: Corene Chambers, Margaret Burchfield, and Jene Boyles; one grandchild: Ian Drew Sours, and one foster son, Ezra Green.

He is survived by wife Mary Hill of Texico, NM; son Duwain (Rhonda) Hill of Texico, NM; daughters Jo Beth Fletcher of Albuquerque, NM, Jennifer (Drew) Sours of Bushland, TX, and Jaynee (Chuck) Sharp of Texico, NM; 11 grandchildren: Jonathan (Chelsea) Hill, Jarron Hill, Devanne Sours, Chasity (Kasson) Huysmans, Dylan Sharp, Brayden Fletcher, Sayler Sours, Cotty Sharp, Jaxan Sours, Hagan Sharp, and Haylee Jo Sharp; two great-grandchildren: Kaida and Creed Huysmans; one half-sister: Marilyn Stix, and one half-brother: David (Linda) Hill.

His final resting place is Texico, New Mexico.