BETTY HILL

November 30, 1928 - August 16, 2014 OKLAHOMA CITY Betty Jo Hill went home to be with our Lord on Saturday, August 16, 2014, at the age of 85. She was born on November 30, 1928 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was the daughter of Oscar and Verna Biswell of Union City, Oklahoma. She married Jimmy Hill on June 2, 1956. They were happily married for 54 years and together they raised their two children, Tamye and Neil. Betty served on the Oklahoma City School Board for 16 years from 1976 to 1992, and was President 4 times. As a member of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, she represented the Oklahoma City School District on numerous legislative committees; as well as conducting workshops for new school board members. Betty also served on two task force committees for the National School Board Association which included Local Control of Education and Binding Arbitration. During her years on the school board, she was a presenter at the state and national level on issues such as increased student achievement at every grade, financial management, and Purpose of Education During the 80's and Beyond. In 1980, she was the President of the Oklahoma City Area Vocational-Technical School District #22, and was a member of the Taft Stadium Board. Betty received numerous awards which included the first "Exemplary Board Member Award" from the National Network for Effective Schools; as well as the 1991 Oklahoma All-State Board Member of the Year and, in 1993, the Profile in Excellence Award from her alma mater, Oklahoma Baptist University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education in 1954. As well as her work on the school board, she was an active member of Northwest Baptist Church which she called home for the past 32 years. Betty was also active in the Republican Party helping in the campaigns of numerous candidates that included Dewey Bartlett, Mickey Edwards, Don Nichols, Jim Inhofe and David Boren. One of her proudest moments was getting a chance to meet with President Ronald Reagan. Prior to her time on the school board, she had been a Business teacher in Pauls Valley and co-manager of Jim Hill Heating and Cooling Company. Betty was an avid gardener and loved to read mystery novels that she would purchase every year at the Friends of the Library sale. Her family and friends will cherish their memories of her, but know she is in Heaven with her Lord, Jim, family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband as well as her parents and her brother, Gordon. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Tamye and John Lynch; her son, Neil; and granddaughter, Liz and Chris Scott and their children Valerie, Clayton and Zachary. Services will be Saturday, August 23, 2:00pm at Northwest Baptist Church with interment in Resurrection Cemetery. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com www.mercer-adams.com