Jimmie L. Hill

Jimmie Leon Hill, 83, former Jersey County Superintendent of  Highways, died February 11, 2022, in Edwardsville, Illinois.  

Mr. Hill was born November 2, 1938 to Ira and Edith  (Morland) Hill in Fayette County. He was born at home, and  so close to midnight his birthdate was debated before the  birth certificate could be filed.  

He met his wife, Sharon Kay (Wright) Hill of Fayette County,  Illinois, at the county 4H fair. His mother tried to introduce  him to the champion seamstress, but Mom jumped the line.  The tall, quiet boy with the beautiful, blue eyes had to be  hers, she said. 

They married in April 1965. 

Mr. Hill served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  building roads in South Korea, and the Illinois National Guard;  worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation, helping  design and build parts of the interstate highway system in  Illinois; then was Jersey County Superintendent of Highways  for more than 25 years, starting in 1973.  

He helped improve many county roads, and repair and build  bridges. He rode along with the snowplow crews because  there was an odd number of workers, and he didn’t want  anyone going out alone.  

He was instrumental in the campaign to finance and build an  upgraded garage for the county’s road equipment and for the  men who operated it. 

He was a member of the local Masonic Lodge and the Order  of the Eastern Star, and an advisor to the Jerseyville Order of  Rainbow for Girls. He was a supportive father through years  of band and choir performances, dance recitals, and theater  performances.  

An avid gardener, he’s remembered for bringing grocery bags  of surplus vegetables to friends and to co-workers at the  Jersey County Courthouse. And a loyal friend, he brought  tools and tiled into the wee hours helping a close friend’s  family finish a bathroom remodel exactly the way their father  had wanted before the man died of a long illness.  

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Kay (Wright) Hill of  Bethalto; his children: Kathleen (Michael) Kassab of  Chesterfield, Missouri, Jana (Matthew Mulkerin) Hill of San  Pedro, Belize, and Dr. Sean (Melanie) Hill of Frisco, Texas; his  brothers: Rex Hill of Coffeen, Illinois, and Melvin Hill of  Ramsey, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira  Hill and Edith (Morland) Hill of Ramsey, Illinois.  

A memorial service will be held March 5 at Alexander Funeral  home, 108 N. Liberty St., Jerseyville, Illinois. Visitation at 10  a.m., services at 11 a.m. 

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