Mabel Montgomery Hill

Mabel Madaline Montgomery Hill passed away on June 10, 2025 in her home on her farm in Southwest Adair County. She was the age of 105 years and 4 months at the time of her death.

Mabel was born January 29, 1920, in South Gifford, Missouri, to Harry and Jennie (Bradley) Montgomery. She lived there in her family home until she married Chester Wilbur Hill on November 22, 1945, after Chet’s return from World War II. They lived in Columbia, Missouri for two years while her husband attended graduate school. She lived the rest of her life on the Hill family farm where she and Chet were engaged in raising cattle and hay forage crops.

Mabel was a homemaker and raised two children, Harry Gilbert Hill and Patricia Ann Hill Bellington. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Mabel belonged to the Christian Church in Winigan, Missouri and attended First United Methodist Church in Kirksville, Missouri for the last 17 years of her life. Mabel enjoyed needle work, crafts, genealogy, cooking, baking and gardening. She cherished her life on the farm remaining there until her passing.

Mabel’s education began at South Gifford grade school and then she attended high school in Elmer and Macon public schools, graduating from Macon High School in 1937. Mabel played basketball at Elmer and at Macon where she was co-captain of the team. She received her teaching certificate from Kirksville State Teachers College in1939. She was on the women’s softball team while in college. She taught school for six years, beginning at the Star School, a one-room country school West of South Gifford and then in Ethel, Elmer, and South Gifford, Missouri.

Over the many years of her life, she served her church in multiple volunteer capacities. In her early married life, she belonged to a club for homemakers called “Keeping Homes Happy”. She served a term on the local Production Credit Board.

Mabel is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, her parents, siblings: Leon Montgomery, Clara Ruben, Dorothy Sadler, James Montgomery and Juanita Horst. She was also preceded in death by her nephews: Roger Hill, Frank Hill, Terrell Hill, Foster Sadler, Harry George Montgomery, David Montgomery and nieces Elnora Wolfe, Karen Drews, Mary Lewis and great-nephew Stephen Hill.

Mabel is survived by her children Harry Hill and wife Sarah Topp of Jefferson City and Southwest Adair County, Patricia Hill Bellington and husband Bruce Bellington, granddaughter Jenny Lile Bellington all of Southwest Adair County. Nieces, Ruth Heminger, Judy Jarnes, Martha Fasola, Kay Rucker, Sue Buck, Jan Hankamer; nephews P.J. Hill, Tom Hill, Daniel Montgomery, Bradley Ruben and Roger Ruben. Many great nieces and nephews including Melanie Grgurich and Mike Hill of rural Novinger, Missouri and niece in-law and former neighbor on the farm, Samatha Hill of Kirksville, Missouri.

A funeral service honoring her long life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 300 E. Washington, Kirksville, Missouri on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. There will be an informal visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. before the service. The interment will follow at the Helton Cemetery, near Goldsberry, Missouri. Those wishing to make memorial contributions may consider the Pantry for Adair County, P.O. Box 580, Kirksville, MO 63501 or First United Methodist Church, 300 E. Washington St., Kirksville, MO 63501.