Thomas "Tom" Hill Sr.

 

A Graveside Service for Thomas “Tom” H. Hill Sr., 87, of Benton, Louisiana, will be held on Monday, November 6, 2023, at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Road, Bossier City, Louisiana, at 2:30 p.m. A visitation will be held Monday, November 6, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Officiating the service will be Pastor Robert Beedle.

Thomas Hill Sr. was born on January 24, 1936, in Selma, Alabama to Edwin and Algie Hill and passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023, in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Thomas, Tom, Tommy, Big Tom, Dad, Pop, Papaw, Coach, Old Man, whatever you called him, or whomever he was to you, if you knew him, then you know that he was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, coach, and friend. Tom played many important roles in his life, and he impacted the lives of many others. He married his better half and best friend Barbara on April 25, 1956, and he built a beautiful home, family, and life with her until she passed away in 1994. Together they had three children that he devoted himself to. He was a hard worker who worked in steel fabrication as an ironworker for Ironworker Local 591 for most of his life until he retired. He was an active and well-respected member of the Masonic Lodge for 56 years and held the title of Pass Master twice. The Masons recently celebrated him as a Lifetime Member. He was very proud to be a part of this elite organization. He served on the Bossier Parish Sherriff’s Posse for many years and served as a City Councilman in Benton, Louisiana for two back-to-back terms. He loved the outdoors and spent as much time there as he could whether it was hunting, fishing, sitting on the porch watching squirrels, going to support the kids at the ballpark, or being on his tractor mowing the grass, which he did daily.  Baseball brought much joy into his life. He loved to support his children, grandchildren, and anyone else who actually knew how to play. He was a coach for many years and remained one from the sidelines up until days before his passing. He was always the number one fan of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was always involved in whatever activity they were into. He would go from the ballfield to a pageant to support them and cheered as enthusiastically at both. He was a simple man, that was easy to get along with. He was old school and he believed in discipline, hard work, and respect. He was a straight shooter and told things like they were. If you wanted the truth, you had to be cautious about what you asked him because he was going to tell you without a filter exactly what he thought. He had a great sense of humor and always kept his family and friends with smiles on their faces and laughing at the things he would say. He was a clever man who had a way of fixing everything including people. He took the time to bring in the lost and wayward sheep and would nourish them and integrate them into his own herd and raise and love them like his own. He had a tremendous impact on a lot of young people's lives over the years. He loved his family and his home more than anything in this world and he happily opened his heart and door and welcomed anyone and everyone into them. He will be greatly missed by them all.

Thomas is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Foster Hill; daughter, Tabatha Hill; Grandson, Matthew Dean Hill; brothers Edgar W. Hill, Calvin K Hill, Hoy Hill, Clarence Hill, Curtis Hill; Sisters, Lavada "Grace" Hill Seales, Willie Lou "Bill" Hill Mitchell, Sue Hill Pearson and Louise Hill Childs. Left to cherish his memory are his son, Tommy Hill Jr. and wife, Therese; daughter, Kim Simmons and husband, Michael; fur Baby, Sissy; grandchildren, Jonathan Colgin, Mallory Hill, Colt Simmons, Brandon Hill, Preston Tye; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Simmons, Hunter Simmons, Evan Dolotina, Hayden Dolotina, Cooper Brown, Mabry Brown, Martin Hill, Remi Hill, Heather Hill, Matt Hill, Jr. and Georgia Colgin.

Honoring Thomas as pallbearers will be Brandon Hill, Colt Simmons, Jeff Benson, Jonathan Colgin, Matthew Hill Jr. and Rodney Ropollo.