Obituary

East Oregonian
Dec. 23, 2004
James Hill Jr.
Nov. 9, 1908-Dec. 20, 2004

ARCH CAPE — Retired Pendleton Grain Growers manager, James Hill Jr., 96, of Arch Cape, died Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, at Seaside.

A memorial service is planned for close friends and family at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at St. Catherine of Alexandria Episcopal Church in Manzanita.

Mr. Hill was born Nov. 9, 1908, on the family wheat ranch near Helix, to James and Beulah Rankin Hill Sr. He attended a one room country school before graduating from Pendleton High School. He graduated from Whitman College at Walla Walla, and, in 1932, graduated from Harvard Business School, and was hired as the first full-time employee at Pendleton Grain Growers.

In 1934 he married Gertrude Hanger of Walla Walla. That same year, he became manager of the Pendleton Grain Growers — a position he held for 37 years. After retirement in 1971, the Hills moved to Arch Cape where he lived until his death. Mrs. Hill died in 1998.

Under his business leadership, Pendleton Grain Growers developed as a major farm cooperative noted for its support and development of barge wheat shipments on the Columbia River.

Mr. Hill served as president or board member on numerous public organizations. He served on state boards or commissions under four governors, and was a member of the governing board of Whitman College for 27 years. Mr. Hill was selected First Citizen of Pendleton, in 1962. He was a lifetime member of the Episcopal Church, Rotary Club, and Pendleton Elks Club.

Mr. Hill served as a Naval Supply Officer during World War II.

He participated in most sports, enjoyed fly-fishing and was an avid golfer through age 95.

Survivors include his son, Timothy, and daughter-in-law, Deborah, of Astoria; daughter, Susan Kasson, and son-in-law, Richard, of Tigard; brother, Fred Hill of Walla Walla; sister, Isabelle Turner of Portland; grandchildren, Anthony Hill, Emily Hill and Hillary Kasson Fargo.

Remembrances may be made to St. Catherine's Church, P.O. Box 251, Manzanita, OR 97130 or to a charity of choice.

Hughes-Ransom Mortuary & Crematory, 576 12th Street, Astoria, OR 97103, is in charge of arrangements.