Roy M Hill, a longtime resident of Litchfield, Michigan, died on June 2 at his apartment in Westland, Michigan.  He had lived in the Detroit area for the past five years to be closer to his daughter and son-in-law, and spent the past eight months in memory care.

Roy was born at his family's home in Pompeii, Michigan, to parents Clyde and Audrey Coakley Hill. He had two brothers and a sister. Roy met the love of his life, Lynn Ellen Ross, in high school in Laingsburg and they married just a year after graduating. They lived in the Washington D.C. area in the early days, while Lynn worked at the Pentagon and Roy was a Marine serving in the Honor Guard during President Kennedy's term.  He loved to tell the story of JFK Jr. chasing after Roy's "cover" (a Marine's cap) when it blew off during a presidential parade he was working.

The couple eventually moved back to Michigan and Roy studied art at Michigan State; he was a naturally gifted graphic artist. They had a daughter, Jennifer and son, Jason. While living for several years in Jackson, Roy worked as a salesman - something that came naturally to him - until 1977 when he decided to buy a printing business in Litchfield so that he could be his own boss.  Despite their largest client moving out of state soon after he took over the Print 'N' Post, Roy grew the business, moving it into a larger building, changing the name to Hill Graphics, and designing an attractive new logo.  After many successful years and a lot of hard work, he eventually sold the business around 2000 to care for Lynn after she was diagnosed with cancer.  The family lived in Litchfield until after Lynn's death in 2001.

Roy was an enthusiastic supporter of Litchfield athletics, calling basketball games for the high school for many years, sometimes even dressing up in a Terrier costume and leading cheers from the stands along with Lynn. He loved to golf and cherished his weekly golf outings with his buddies.  Roy was a member of several fraternal organizations including Kiwanis, Rotary, and Oddfellows. He and Lynn loved to travel, and the family took regular vacations, teaching their children the importance of seeing the world - even if you can only afford to go a few states away - and connecting with all kinds of people. They hosted two exchange students during their time in Litchfield, and continued to have contact with Sabine, who came from Germany to spend a year with the family.  He and Lynn were active in the United Methodist Church, as well as musical theater, and they once performed a full-length two-person show entitled "I Do, I Do" at the Sauk Theater in Jonesville.  They always enjoyed singing together, on stage and off.  Through his activities in the fraternal organizations, Roy even sang the National Anthem before a game at Tiger Stadium. Lynn bought him flying lessons for Christmas one year and he went as far as getting his commercial pilot's license, flying all over the country in his Piper Cherokee. He worked part time at the Hillsdale airport for many years after he retired.

The past few years were challenging ones… Roy was 69 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia, and it's been a long, slow decline in memory and independence since then.  In June 2020 he moved into the senior residence Ashford Court in Westland. Since October 2024 he has lived in memory care there, under the loving and patient care of staff at Homestead Home Health - to whom the family is indebted and deeply grateful. He died suddenly and without prolonged suffering, though ongoing worries about how he would pay for care in the near future clouded the family's days with him, as is true with so many families facing dementia. Roy is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Hill (David) Buehrer, granddaughters Amanda (Tim) Rupp and Alexandra Hill, and daughter-in-law Trish Hill, in addition to his brother Carl (Diana) Hill and sister Nila Marshall, and many beloved nephews and nieces.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Lynn, and his son Jason.

No services are planned, but the family welcomes memorial donations to the fundraising/cycling team started by his son Jason before his death, Team Brain Trust, which continues to ride every year in Pedal the Cause, raising money for research into cancer - the disease that took both Roy's wife and son.  The team fundraising page can be found below.  Donations may also be made to the Alzheimer's Association.