Gaye Lorene Hill
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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!
Memorial contributions may be made in Gaye’s name to Healthcare Access and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
great nurse and person
I worked in the recovery room with Gaye in the 70s. She was a very thorough, caring nurse for all surgery patients. She had a great sense of humor. My condolences to all of her family.
Gaye was a wonderful nurse. Always had a smile for everyone.
There are no words for the legacy Gaye Hill has left in my life. To touch just one life so deeply would have been a good life but Gaye touched the lives of hundreds of people while they were suffering. Her shining personality and caring ways will live on in my heart and the lives of so many other people. Gaye made the world a better place to live. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Cynthia, what an awesome legacy your mom left. I was fascinated reading her obit and all that she loved and accomplished in her long life. I know that you and your siblings have been blessed many times over by her love. Blessings to all of your family.
Loving sympathies to Gaye’s family and friends. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but heard many stories from her daughter and my friend, Cynthia. She sounded like quite a lady. May God bless the entire family with Grace and Peace.
In Christ,
Patricia
So sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are for you and the family.
What a full and amazing life Gaye had! I didn’t know her personally but prayed foe her many times over the years. . . Cynthia, my heart is with you and the rest of your family! I love you, my friend!
Cynthia and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Cynthia I’m so sorry for your loss ! What a huge hole this wonderful woman is going to leave in so many hearts. I wish I would’ve had the pleasure of meeting her ! I hope you know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Miss you friend. ❤️ Beverly Lake
I wish I could have met this wonderful lady. Sounds like a Proverbs 31 woman. Cynthia, think you got her infectious smile. May we learn from your mother to spread joy and care.
The world is desperate for it! God bless you and family!
Hill family: When I began my years of working in the OR at LMH I found out that your mom was from Belleville, my hometown. This led to a professional/personal friendship that I still cherish. She was wonderful.
Gaye was an exceptional and caring nurse with the ability to always say the right thing. My mother suffered an anesthesia-induced psychosis after surgery where she thought flowers were turning into people, bad guys were trying to stab nurses and that she had won the Publisher’s Clearing House contest and we were on a train with Ed McMahon. It was a wild and crazy ride because across the hall, a 21-year-old woman who had surgery the same day as Mom, thought the nurses walking in the hall were terrorists walking down the aisle of her hijacked plane. Gaye, who worked in the recovery room, succinctly summed it up for me: “I can always tell when they open a new can of that stuff!” I wish all nurses were as competent, caring and witty as Gaye. My sympathy to her family.
Great person. Great Nurse. She always made me put on lipstick when I made rounds. I’ll never forget her. My sympathy to all her loved ones.
Cynthia, My deepest condolences to you and your family. Your mother was an exceptional person with so many talents and interests. Bet there was never a dull moment around your house when you were growing up! May the wonderful memories you have of your mother help all of you through this time of grief and always.
Sincerely, Janet Adams
I dont know if you will remember me or not. i took care of Cynthia Phillip Debra and
Lance In 1955 until end of 1957. Your mom was a wonderful woman. I had great respect for her. I am sorry to hear of her passing. I have thought of her so often over the years. You Cynthia worked at a plant i worked for from 73 to 91. then i lost
track when you left.
I had a daughter named after you. She passed away 3 years ago.
So sorry to hear about Gaye’s passing. It was always such a pleasure to see her and interact with her. She had a mind much younger than her years.
Deborah, your mother was truly an amazing woman! I am very glad that I was able to meet her at your house. My prayers go out to you and all of the family.
I WAS BLESSED TO WORK WITH HER FOR MANY YEARS AS AN AIDE. WE ALL HELPED MAKE MANY MEMORIES TOGETHER AS WE OFFERED OUR SERVICE. I APPRECIATED HER GUIDANCE. MAY EACH OF YOU WHO CARE WRAP YOUR HEARTS’ MEMORY POCKETS AROUND YOU TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR PEACE AS SHE HAS FOUND HERS.