Caroline Marie Dill

Caroline "Lina" Marie Dill came into this world on March 17, 2001 (yes, that is St. Patrick's Day). She was so indignant at this unanticipated turn of events that she decided to scream about it for six months, much to the detriment of her parents, Scott, and Amy Dill, as well as the neighbors. It got better.
Lina lived an early life surrounded by love, life, and music in a log cabin on central Missouri's broad grassy plains and rolling hills. Four years her sister Maura Kathleen Dill had the audacity to be born on March 17, 2005, which meant that for the rest of her life, she shared a day of celebration with the person who would become her closest friend and confidant in this life. It is not a bad birthday present, all things considered.
Lina grew, as all children do, too quickly. She learned and loved in what seemed a boundless expanse of unnumbered days as she made her way through schools in Macks Creek, Houston, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Each school brought her new experiences, fresh challenges, and broadened horizons. She completed her education as a proud graduate of Missouri University, where she worked diligently to become an elementary school teacher. She had, at the end of August, proudly started her career as a teacher at Grant Elementary in the Columbia Public School System.
Lina was a born teacher. She was other-oriented and had a sense of justice and fairness, particularly for disadvantaged students. Lina had, over the last year, struggled to make ends meet as she completed her student teaching (unpaid internship). Her family helped as she allowed, which she rarely did, being fiercely independent and ferociously stubborn. In a cruel twist of fate, Lina received her first professional paycheck the day after she left this life.
Amy and I had the gift of speaking with Lina just an hour before the accident that stopped her magnificent heart and stilled her beautiful voice. She was full of hope and vim. She detailed how she planned to spend every penny of her first check – it was all on others. Gifts for her sister, supplies for her students who lacked them, and resources to help her students realize their natural gifts and explore their potential.
When we hung up the phone that night, she told us we would talk tomorrow. That did not work out for any of us.
My daughter spent the last moments of her life near the water, where she had spent countless hours in life. Although she was alone in the end, I can picture the vista. It was late on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, a warm, humid evening. The blue supermoon hung low in the sky, and the wide Missouri River slid silently past my daughter as she beheld the wonder and beauty of existence.
We will miss you forever, my darling daughter.
The world is a lesser place without you.
In lieu of flowers we ask that donations are made to this organization:
Buddy Ball - PBBuddyball.com - Donations
We will be hosting a come-as-you-are celebration of life at our home on Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 11- 3 at 1705 Zehm Ave, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Parking is available streetside or at Temple Baptist Church.
No uncomfortable clothes allowed.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, 12 East Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 449-4153. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.parkermillard.com.