DESSAMORE L. 'DESS' HILLMAN

1922 - 2016

DESSAMORE L. "DESS" HILLMAN Dessamore L. "Dess" Hillman passed away at the age of 94 on July 29, 2016. She was born June 16, 1922, to John and Emma Dickey in Griswold, Iowa. She attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where she became a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She was married briefly to Lt. Lorenz Gross who trained as a B-24 pilot and was killed in Italy in 1944 during World War II. She returned to college and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BA in Elementary Education in June 1947. It was at Nebraska that she met and married Ralph (Bud) Hillman in November, 1947. They celebrated 65 anniversaries together before Bud died in July of 2009. Together they raised two children, Marcia and Scott. Dess had many friends and was known as "the best cook on the block" during their days in Kansas City, Mo. She was a kindergarten teacher for more than 20 years - first in Fontanelle and Griswold, Iowa, during the war years, and later in Kansas City, after her children were grown. Bud was transferred to Maryland in 1971 and she then taught for the Prince Georges County school system. Dess enjoyed teaching preschool following her retirement in 1987. She loved being together with friends and family, and watching sports while keeping track of players and game results. In 2010, she returned to the Kansas City area living at Brookdale Leawood in Kansas where she met many new friends. She also reconnected with an Alpha Chi Alumna group and enjoyed her new group of Alpha Chi "Sisters." Survivors include her daughter, Marcia Bowerman (Jack), and son, Scott Hillman (Dawn). She is also survived by four grandchildren, Mark Bowerman (Asia); Blake Bowerman; Justin Hillman (Audrey); and Marcia Hoover (Patrick); and four great grandchildren, Jackson and Dylan Bowerman and Brooks and Laine Hillman. A memorial service will be held later this month at the Christian Community Presbyterian Church in Bowie, Md. The family suggests memorial contributions to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society. Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri, 8837 Roe Avenue, Prairie Village, KS 66207, 913-383-9888. www.kccremation.com