Marion B. Hill

Marion Hill was a woman as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, a light in the life of all who knew her. She was an intelligent, proper and talented woman, and a devoted wife and loving mother. Most of all, Marion was a woman who set such a wonderful example for all those around her.

Marion's story began on a warm summer day in 1913, in the town of Sturgis, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this great nation, as we moved from a country built on perspiration to one of innovation. The Ford Motor Company unveiled its assembly line, changing production forever, and helping supply the automobile to the masses. Clearly there was much to celebrate in 1913. In the town of Sturgis, Charles and Blanche (Forbes) Darrow found more reason to celebrate than the automobile, however. On August 26, 1913, a sunny Tuesday in Sturgis, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Marion.

Marion was later joined by three sisters and a brother in the Darrow home, which for most of her youth resided in Sturgis. As a young girl, Marion loved to get up early to see her dad off to work. When she was a sophomore in high school, the family moved up the road to Plainwell. There was much commotion about Marion and her siblings' arrival at Plainwell High School, with the four beautiful Darrow girls causing quite a stir!

Marion was as talented as she was beautiful and played the piano and organ wonderfully. She got her father's musical gifts, as he had been a violinist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Marion took years of lessons from the best piano/organ teacher in Kalamazoo. Marion 's Faith guided her to use her talents in her home church, First Baptist Church of Plainwell, where she served as organist for many years.

After she graduated from Plainwell High School in 1931, Marion attended Parsons Business School, and then found a job working at a local paper supply shop. Soon, however, her attention would be devoted elsewhere.

One day Marion met a handsome young man named Roscoe Hill in Plainwell, and he of course was immediately taken with Marion. The two dated for awhile, fell in love, and were married on August 26, 1935, on Marion 's 22nd birthday. The newlyweds moved to nearby Wayland, where Roscoe was manager of a Kroger grocery store. It wasn't long before the new husband and wife became father and mother, as well. Marion and Roscoe were blessed with three beautiful, wonderful children, sons Charles and Martin, and daughter Sharon. Marion became a fulltime homemaker, and relished her role as wife and mother. She was a very organized, particular lady, making her an excellent housekeeper, and an excellent role model for her children. She also passed along her musical talents to her kids, as well.

After living in Wayland for a few years, the family packed up and moved back to Plainwell. There Roscoe started the Plainwell Harding's Grocery Store, with a man named Mel Harding. Marion helped out behind the scenes, handling inventory, candling eggs (to determine which were good to sell), or whatever else needed doing. Marion was a wonderfully supportive wife in all her husband's endeavors, and the Hills made Harding's a family affair. The family often visited the store after church on Sundays to pick out their lunch, and the kids fondly remember playing around in the store in those early days.

Marion not only supported her husband's career, but also his hobbies. He loved to race pigeons, and he and Marion attended pigeon-racing conventions each year. The couple enjoyed a wonderful marriage and did so much together! They loved to travel, and went all over Michigan, and took the kids on many trips to the Upper Peninsula. Marion and Roscoe also attended Spartan conventions all across the United States together. When they retired, they wintered in Lake Mary, Florida, to be close to their daughter Sharon.

Marion and Roscoe had other interests, as well, from the Gun River Conservation Club they were active in for many years, to the bowling hobby they shared in retirement, to the church they faithfully attended their whole lives. They devoted much of their time to the church, including the Gospel mission. Faith was important in their home and they made sure they passed that devotion on to their children.

Marion 's personal passion was tending to her gorgeous flower garden, which was so vibrant. It even won an award, and a picture of her garden appeared in the newspaper!

That was Marion, though, surrounded by beauty inside and out. Her appearance was always very important to her, as well as the tidiness of her surroundings, and she liked things to be in their rightful place.

Sadly, her beloved Roscoe died in 1991, and four years later, Marion moved into the Fountains at Bronson Place. In September of 2006, Marion suffered a stroke, and died of complications on October 16, 2006.

Marion was a remarkable woman, a beautiful, talented, and intelligent lady. She was spunky, she was opinionated, and she was proper, a devoted wife and loving mother. Most of all, Marion was a lady, and a shining example to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Marion, view her Life Story Digital Film and visit with her family on Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, Plainwell, 120 S. Woodhams. Her service will be held on Friday at 2 PM at the First Baptist Church of Plainwell. Marion's family includes her children: Charles & Betsy Hill of Plainwell, Sharon MacDonald of Longwood, Florida, and Martin & Catherine Hill of Plainwell; grandchildren: Mark and Todd MacDonald, Matthew & Amy MacDonald, Dan Hill, Katy & Kevin Cox, and Jon & Leslie Hill; 4 great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Sophie, Lucy, Jack; her sister, Phyllis & Jack Severson of Holland; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Roscoe in 1991, two sisters, a brother, and her parents. Please visit Marion 's Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her Life Story, archive a favorite memory or photo, or make a memorial donation to the First Baptist Church of Plainwell.