Gaye Hill

Gaye Lorene Hill died peacefully on Tuesday morning, June 28, 2022 in her home at the age of 97. She was born September 10, 1924, on a small farm east of Belleville, Kansas to Edward Charles and Ottilie Brzon Vanous. She attended Jefferson Center, a one room country school, from 6 years of age to her freshman year of high school. After graduating from Belleville High School in 1941 she attended St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Concordia, Kansas. During this time, she had the opportunity to be a visiting nurse for the German POW's at Camp Concordia assisting a local Optometrist. After graduating as a Kansas Registered Nurse in 1945, she worked at hospitals in LaCrosse and Belleville, Kansas as a critical care and surgical nurse. Afterwards she relocated to Sunflower Village, Kansas and worked as a Nurse at Sunflower Ordnance Works, a powder and propellant manufacturing facility just south of De Soto, Kansas for 7 years. Her final move was to Lawrence, Kansas where she worked for 33 years at Lawrence Memorial Hospital as a Recovery Room Nurse and Chief Coordinator of Outpatient Surgery.

A highlight of her nursing career occurred April 18, 1973, while working as the head nurse in the ER. She was a vital part of the team that performed ‘open chest surgery’ on a clinically dead 15-year-old boy that was brought into the Emergency Room. Ultimately, a 4′ piece of wire was removed from his heart and the replacement of an estimated 7 pints of blood loss from internal hemorrhaging. Once stabilized the patient was then moved to a more sterile and better equipped environment of an operating room to finish the procedure that restored the young boy's life.

Gaye worked over 40 years as a Registered Nurse and was a charter member of the American Society of Post Anesthesia Nurses. After retirement, she volunteered for the Red Cross as well as Health Care Access of which she was an avid supporter.

Gaye never knew a stranger. She was known to always have a smile on her face and justly so, acquired a few related nick names (such as Happy Butt) from her co-workers. She truly believed no matter what the circumstances you could always find a silver lining. Gaye was graced with many talents. As a skilled seamstress she sewed the family shorts, dresses and even a bikini. She crocheted countless slippers and could embroider beautifully. As kids we appreciated when she embroiderd each of our initials on our matching pajama tops. The family home was graced with her beautiful watercolor landscapes. She also had a passion for reading and would read 3 books at a time. Her flower garden flourished for she was an avid gardener. She was a natural born ‘cat magnet’ because no matter where she lived, both neighborhood and stray cats would seek her out. Gaye kept physically active by swimming laps 2-3 times a week up until the age of 93.

As a young teenager she knew she wanted a large family. She was a loving mother that did all she could for her seven children. Her only wish was for us to be educated, happy and content. All of Gaye's children love and adore her for she made a special impact on each and every one of us with special attention on our birthdays, wiener roasts, cinnamon rolls, cream puffs and taffy pulls or just a simple sweet lazy day graced with her smiling face. She was the best mom we could ever have!

Gaye married Herbert D. Hill, Jr. from Belleville, Kansas on February 24, 1946. The couple was married almost 60 years at Herb's passing in November 2005.

Gaye is preceded in death by her husband Herbert D Hill, Jr.; her brother Dale Dean Vanous & his wife Dorothy of Cuba, KS; her son-in-law Steve Sullivan, Lansing, MI; and daughters-in-law Vicki Reeves, Lawrence, KS and Eileen Sanjuan, New Orleans, LA.

She is survived by her seven children: Cynthia Hill Peters Sullivan, Lawrence, KS; Phillip Hill, Garden Valley, CA; Deborah Hill Crawford & husband Rick, Olathe, KS; Lance Hill, New Orleans, LA; Mark Hill & Rosalie McMaster, Lawrence, KS; Karen Hill, Alexandra Bay, NY; Roger Hill & wife Lina, Lawrence, KS; 8 grandchildren: Kendall Peters Johnson & husband Doug; Jennifer Peters Wolff & husband Jason; Joel Hill & wife Destiny; Robert Brent Crawford & wife Arleen; Allison Crawford Lesko & partner Josh White; Michael Lesko; Hannah Side; Liam Side; 2 step grandsons: David Reeves and Chris Sullivan; 2 step granddaughters: Nell Richardson and Emily Grammar.

Gaye leaves 5 great-grandchildren: Mitchell, Will, Lorelei, Annika & Olivia; 6 step great grandchildren: Lineia, Ian, Elliott, Sloan, Vicki Jo, Todd; and one great-great-grandchild Taliesin; as well as 2 nephews: Duane Vanous & Darwin Vanous and niece Denise Shriver; along with countless cousins. Also, to mourn her passing are her two beloved cats Yoshi and Sun-Kei.

The family wishes to thank Mom's wonderful caretakers, Barbara and Jane, for their love, support, and unwavering care over the last 2 ½ years.

Per Gaye's wishes, she will be cremated and there will be a private grave site Memorial for family and dear friends officiated by her longtime friend Mrs. Jean Ogden. The memorial date to be determined. Gaye requested that everyone wear bright colors!

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.