of Shirley, AR
February 20, 1957 - August 13, 2022
Lisa Kim Hill passed away on the morning of Saturday August 13, 2022. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas to Charles Smith and Dorthy (Meeks) Francis on February 20, 1957.
I don't even know where to begin with this crazy woman. I could write a book and still not say everything that needs to be said on her behalf. The number of animals, flowers, rocks and of course, people's lives, that she touched could fill the sky like stars.
Kim, aka Kimmee, aka Nanu, aka Mom was seriously and honestly...unexplainable...just as unexplainable as her use of....Ellipsis. You would have had to meet her to understand just how truly unique she was. The love and passion she had for everything in her path was astonishing and admirable. Whether it be her rescue groups, rock club, secret gardens or her family, her passion never lessened and never wavered. After finally moving to her new place, a place she called "At Last" (a name I always refused to call it because I told her it was dumb), she absolutely loved nothing more than to have her friends and family come down for a visit to enjoy her dream home, her creek and her secret gardens. She worked day and night on perfecting a place we could all come to enjoy.
The pain and absence she leaves behind is completely unbearable and just writing this using past tense when speaking about her is still surreal and impossible to comprehend. How can she no longer be here? How can there not be ''a next time'' for her to save a dog off the streets, add a cat to her collection, have a Nanu weekend with the kids??!! No more rock adventures, flower shopping for mother's day or selfies of her drinking those terrible sonic shakes I told her not to drink. My brain can't wrap around the idea of no longer having a mom or a Nanu when she has been such a huge part of all of our lives. Although we are such a close family, closer than any family I've ever known, its times like this that hurt the most because of all the time and memories we all have with her. However, we are thankful to have each and every one of them. It's impossible to accept that this woman, who I believed would live forever, is actually...gone.
As a Nanu, she was a very active grandmother with A-LOT of grandchildren. And she wasn't one of those grandma's that would pinch your cheek and give you a quarter. She was one that would slug bug you hard enough to leave a bruise for weeks, one that could keep up with even the smallest of grandchildren. A Nanu that would take more than 10 grandkids on trip after trip to hunt for rocks. Pick up and take kids to school in the back of the truck and swim in the Mississippi River. Trips to the Zoo, creeks, out of State, dog parks and many other adventures with Nanu. She was so proud to have all her Grandchildren and talked about them to everyone she met. The loss of their Nanu is one none of them could have ever prepared for.
As a wife of over 44 years!! 44 years of endless Nanu shenanigans. I can't even imagine the amount of nutty things my Dad has had the pleasure to witness. For example just one of the many....Searching for geodes in the creek, despite the raging lightning storm, dragging dead deer into the back of the pickup and filling Poppi's trunk full of rocks, to the point of slowing the car down.
As a sister and daughter she - like everything else in life - gave it 100[%], no matter what was going on. As the oldest, she most definitely filled the role of a big sis, protector and oldest child. As the baby sister, Jennifer can attest to the love and devotion her big sissy had for her and their siblings. She remembers how selflessly she took care of everyone around her no matter what she was going through herself. Her energy and excitement when telling you even the simplest stories is yet another memory that makes this all that much harder. Those long phone calls with her crazy stories will be greatly missed and irreplaceable.
As a mother, she worked tirelessly and endlessly to raise her 4 children and other children as well. Leaving work to take and pick us up from school and practices, only to return to work; having to wake Ricky up (was a full-time job in itself), night time Vick's rub downs, reading us to sleep, while actually just reading a book she wanted to finish out loud, are just a few of the many ways mom did her thing. She had the most unique style in raising us, but as you can see she did an amazing job and left behind her pride and joy. She never wasted the chance to proudly talk about her children and how proud she was of each of us. Mom collected children like she collected animals and those who called her their second mom could attest to the fact she loved them all like her own.
And finally as a friend...well her friends could tell you all about that. All about how they do not have another friend anything like her and how she is without a doubt 100[%] one of a kind.
Although this is not Goodbye, the devastation and heartache we all face until we meet again, is just that...devastating. So it is with incredibly broken hearts we say goodbye to our crazy goofball of a mother, wife, sister, Nanu, daughter and one of a kind friend. May she rest peacefully in a place far better than any of us could imagine...until we meet again.
Kim is survived by the man she has ''put up with'' (as he says) and loved for over 44 years, Husband James Richard Hill III; Children, Brooke (m. Alberto), Ashley (m. Jeremy), Ricky and Roxanne (m. Erik); Grandkids, Chris (m. Shelby), Angela, Beman, Kalissa, Lupe, Sonya, Brandon, Caleb, Ricardo, Dominik, Bella, JD, Travis and Sofia; Siblings, Baby sister Jennifer, Mike, Leslie, Billy, Kent, Kerry & Michael F., Janet, Bill, Bob and Theresa; Brother in Law, Jesse Hill (m.Sheri); Mother, Dorthy Francis and Countless other Friends and Family members.
She was preceded in death by Henry Francis, Charles Smith, Luis Ortiz, Amanda Hill and JR Hill.
Celebration of Life Services will be 11:00AM, Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Clinton, Arkansas. The family will have a gathering at the family home, located at 8658 HWY 16 E, Shirley, AR 72153, after the service. All attendees are welcome.
To express condolences online please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clinton
My dear friend, Kim and I have been bonded by our love for animals, our mutual acceptance of quirkiness and a friendship that allowed us to be ourselves. Since the eighties we've never changed that and I feel like I was given a gift from above to know Kim as a friend. She was truly honestly the most interesting human I have ever known. The world shines a little less brighter now but she left us clues and remedies to get through it. I'm disabled and haven't seen her in a while, my heart was shattered to learn she was gone but my consolation is I can't wait to see what she's doing up there in heaven and creating now. God bless â¤ï¸
Kim was a wonderful lady and loved everyone.She would come with her husband Richard and do our Rock display at the Vbc library for our kids and Thay loved it.God got a outstanding new angel that day forsure.prayers for you Richard and your family.Please always remember we are here if you need anything.prayers from all the Vbc staff and thank y'all for being there for our kids.
May God give you comfort during this time of grieving and surround you with loving people who knew and loved Kim.
I know you will miss her terribly. She was so much to so many people.
With love and kind thoughts ,
Irma Robinson and Sheila Lynch and family.
What a beautiful tribute and so perfectly fitting…I always loved her uniqueness…i felt a kindred spirit to her!! I am sure that she and her dad Chuck are having a great reunion!!!
Kim was my bestie, my soul sister! So many days hunting rocks together or sitting in the creek digging for shark's teeth. I'll forever miss those hugs of hers ... they HAD to last at least 30 seconds for it to be considered a REAL hug!!!! The crazy hats she had for both of us to wear while rock hunting and the joy we had sitting on my back porch cracking rocks open are precious memories for me. When my husband died, she was just magically there ... I don't know how. I'm so glad the last thing she heard from me was, "I love you!" See you later, soul sister ... your love will live on in my heart!!!
Kim, Richard, and spent a lot of time together in the 90's. In this time our bond for each other became stronger and stronger. When I moved back to New England it was very hard to say good bye. At least I could talk to them on the phone. Now I must say good bye again to Kim being happy to know I can still talk to her but sadly not hearing her voice talking to me. Kim will be missed. Rest in peace!
Kim was no doubt a little on the goofy side when it came to friendships and rockhounding, but she was also definitely a sweet soul and one of a kind as well, and she will definitely be missed by many !! I added her and Richard to my group of rockhound friends a few years ago and while she didnt go with us on many trips, the trips she did go with us were quite memorable, and I would have to agree with Rockhound Charles HIll, that Kim was certainly one of the very best, if not THE best, Field Trip Director, that the Memphis Rockhounding Group, called MAGS...has ever had. I can only imagine that she is now walking the Streets of Gold and oohing and ahhing at everything she sees and touches up there in Heaven.....
Kim was an incredible lady. I knew her through the Rock Club. She was passionate about every rock she collected and every project she undertook. Kim will be missed greatly. Kim, I’ll see on the other side!
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Will miss this sweet lady that I call niece and friend. She will be greatly missed. Loved her eye for the beauty she saw everywhere. I was glad that I was present at her wedding those 44 years ago. When she married my nephew Ricky Hill. May you rest in peace lady, if you see my Jack give him a hug for me. God Bless your family thinking of you all at this sad time.
Wow! I don’t even know y’all, was just scrolling thru Rollers obits and your beautiful Mom’s pic caught my eye! As I read all you wrote, I was touched. She must’ve been fantastic to be with and love and be loved by her. I’m sure your hearts are broken but I imagine you have a lifetime of wonderful memories to help you. Take care, Carla Mason