James M Hilley

James Marion Hilley (11/2/1962-11/2/2016). James Hilley was born in 1962 to James Robert Hilley and Barbara Jeanne Mello. A military family, they traveled extensively until settling in the South Bay of San Diego. James enjoyed many activities including playing volleyball, cycling, music, and photography. He attended Bonita High School and graduated in 1980. He attended San Diego City College and earned an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts in 1988. He became and is part of an extended Samoan family in the early 1980’s. He started at Scripps in June 1981 in the Housekeeping department, in 1990’s he transferred to the Information Services, and finally transferred to the Supply Chain department, where he worked as an Inventory Management Analyst. He met Holly Santiago at Scripps and they courted for several years before marrying in 1998. James and Holly have three beautiful daughters; Christina, Corina, and Chailyn. With Christina, James began studying Tae Kwon Do, earning a Black Belt and becoming a jogyonim (instructor’s assistant) with the America’s Youth Outreach Program. This grew into an interest in practicing and instructing Kajukenbo.

James was a devoted husband and father. There was little he wouldn’t do for his daughters as evidenced by his often (ir)regularly painted toenails. He was an avid photographer who liked to take pictures of flowers and to chronicle family events. James typically answered the call to service; when needed, he volunteered at many cook out events at Sandburg Elementary and Mira Mesa High School, he was the Junior Varsity coach for Mira Mesa High school volleyball team for one year, and he mentored and taught many students at Tae Kwon Do and Kajukenbo. He had a strong self-confidence, a calming manner, a kind and loving heart, and a wicked/goofy sense of humor. He was a great friend, and was always willing to provide a helping hand when asked.

James passed the morning of his 54th birthday of a heart attack, having almost completed a visit with his father and family members in South Carolina.

James is survived by his wife, Holly, daughters, Christina, Corina, and Chailyn, his father, James Robert, and stepmother, Polly, his mother, Barbara Jeanne Mello, sisters, Jeannie and Jennifer, brother, Joseph, half-brother , Jimmy, his extended Samoan family, and many extended family members. All loved him dearly.