Shirley Jean (Bennett) Hill passed away on September 6, 2024 in South Jordan, Utah.
She was born on June 24, 1936 in Twin Falls, Idaho in the depths of the Great Depression, the third child of Ralph Theodore Bennett and Florence Mabel (Brown) Bennett. She was the third of five children, with two older sisters and two younger brothers.
Shirley’s early years were marked by frequent moves as Ralph pursued work, and she remembered it was more common than not that she started and finished a school year at different schools. One of these moves was to a ranch in the Snake River Canyon. While living there Shirley and her sister Beth rode a horse to and from school each day, Shirley remembered Beth always got to sit in front because the was older. There was plenty of hardship growing up, but also lots of love. Her two older sisters were often in charge of taking care of her because both her Dad and Mom had to work to survive.
Shirley completed her freshman year of high school in Buhl, Idaho before the family moved to McGill, Nevada. She attended White Pine High School in Ely, Nevada and graduated in 1954. After a childhood constantly on the move, Shirley often commented that McGill would always be home because it was the first time in her life that she felt settled and secure.
She was working at Cononelos Dry Goods store after graduation one day when Jimmy Hill, recently returned from the service, came into the store with his mom. When Shirley left work that day, he was waiting outside in his car to ask her out. She didn’t know him, so she went across the street and consulted Buddy Sampson, who gave Jim a sparkling recommendation. She said yes. They were married on June 25, 1956 in Elko, Nevada.
Shirley and Jim lived in McGill until July of 1978 while raising their children Mike and Sue. They moved to Bountiful, Utah in July of 1978 when Jim transferred with Kennecott. Shirley and Jim retired in 1994 and began to spend their winters in Gold Canyon, Arizona, surrounded by many friends from Nevada. They did some traveling and always made sure they were in Ely for the 4th of July.
Shirley was a talented guitar player and singer, and she and her partner Sandy Wilmont sang and played in many houses in McGill. She was also a consummate baker—there were always homemade cookies, pies, cakes, brownies, and myriad other treats available at Shirley’s. She liked to cook and mastered many of the international recipes she learned in McGill. She enjoyed camping in the mountains of White Pine County, golf, sewing, gardening, and volunteering at the Methodist Church and her children’s school.
Probably because she didn’t have many clothes growing up, she LOVED shopping for clothes and was constantly coming home with new outfits. She always looked very put together right to the end of her life.
Shirley spent the last few years of her life in assisted living at Sagewood in Daybreak, UT with her little dog Buster. She received loving care from the staff there and enjoyed the many new friends she made as well as the shopping outings provided.
She is survived by her son, Mike (Tamra) Hill of Boise, Idaho; daughter, Sue (Jim) Goodrich of South Jordan, UT; grandsons: Nick (Julia) Hill of Spokane, WA, Zach (Allison) Hill of Scottsdale, AZ, Kyle (Hailey) Goodrich of Herriman, UT, Bryan (Vanessa) Goodrich of Eagle Mountain, UT, and Adam Goodrich, currently serving in the US Army stationed in Europe; and her two great grandchildren, James and Emery.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Ralph Bennett and Florence Brown Bennett; siblings: Bette (Bennett) O’Brien, Beth (Bennett) Howells, Gary Bennett and Don Bennett; and her husband James F (Jimmy) Hill.
A memorial service will be held at Sagewood Assisted Living Center, 11289 S. Oakmond Rd. South Jordan, UT on November 7 at 6:00PM.
Shirley will be laid to rest next to Jim in the Ely, NV cemetery, at a graveside service on November 9 at 1:00PM.