Gladys Angeline Hill

TRAVERSE CITY — Gladys A. Hill, at the age of 94, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at Munson Hospice House, following a very short illness.

Gladys was born on Sept. 25, 1913, to Richard and Anna (Fox) Lemcool of Greilickville, and lived her entire life on the south shore of Cedar Lake. She attended Norris School through the 8th grade.

Early employment included school janitor, clerking at Roberts Grocery Store and at Woolworths 5 and 10 Store in Traverse City, where she met her future husband.

On Feb. 20, 1932, she married James W. "Bill" Hill and together, a couple of years later, they started building their first home on Cherry Bend Road.

Starting out as a newly married couple during the Depression years was difficult, but she was a hard worker and was always willing to make personal sacrifices when it came to her husband and children. She spent a good share of her time cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, doing laundry and other household tasks. She assisted in the actual construction of their future homes. Over the years she did her share toward the operation of their honeybee business — Cedar Lake Apiaries.

Upon retirement she and her husband spent their winters traveling throughout the southwest, returning each spring to their home on Cedar Lake, bringing with them their latest collection of rocks.

She spent her relaxing time enjoying her grandchildren, sewing, making all kinds of craft items, crocheting afghans, mittens, lap robes, making jewelry and collecting and reconditioning toys for the needy children for Christmas. She made over 100 pair of mittens each year and distributed them to the elementary schools for their needy children, as well as several lap robes for local adult care homes.

The last few years she could be seen several times a week at the T.C. Senior Center playing cards, both pinochle or euchre, playing in the Senior Center Kitchen Band, attending exercise classes, playing bingo and doing crafts. She was selected as the first "Queen of the Bayside Carnival", held at the Senior Center in June 2004.

She helped initiate the effort to secure the first fire truck for Elmwood Twp., served two years as PTA President at Norris School, was first president of NW Michigan Beekeepers Assn., a longtime member of the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club, and was currently a RSVP Afghan Angel. Her oral history of growing up and living her entire life in Grelickville is in the archives of the Women's History Project of Northwest Michigan at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.

Gladys is survived by her two daughters, Ida M. (Jim) Tompkins of Traverse City and Patricia Ann (Pete) Tompkins of Burkburnett, Texas; her loving granddaughter, Mary Ann Tompkins (George) Galic of Traverse City and two loving grandsons, John Tompkins of Pennsylvania and David Tompkins of Texas, who called her regularly; and also five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill in July of 2001; her parents; two sisters; and one brother.

Funeral services will be at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m., with the Reverend Richard Skar officiating. Visitation will be Monday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

In remembrance, memorial contributions may be directed to the Traverse City Senior Center Building Fund, 801 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49686 or Munson Hospice House, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684.

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Traverse City; www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.