Fern Hill

Cleta Fern (Gant) Hill, age 89, of Aquilla, left this world and fell into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, September 6, 2025 in Whitney.

Graveside Services will be held 10:00 a.m.Thursday, September 11, 2025 at Smith Bend-Coon Creek Cemetery near Laguna Park, with Pastor Jeremy Begges officiating. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel.

Fern, the fifth child of five, was born in Whitney on December 5, 1935 the daughter of Mary Ada (Arnold) and Joseph Alfred "Jack" Gant. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1954 and on March 12, 1955 married the love of her life, Darwin L. "Dob" Hill. Fern dedicated herself to her husband and family as a homemaker and also worked many years at Latham Springs Baptist Camp. Later in life, Fern was a teacher's sub with Aquilla ISD. One of her greatest passions was spending time with her family and babysitting her grandchildren. She was a member of Smith Bend Baptist Church for many years and later moved her membership to the Lebanon Church. Fern loved to cook and one could never stop by her house without her making sure you had something to eat or drink, even if it was not a mealtime. A Sunday family tradition that Fern cherished was to have all her family gathered in her home after church for her delicious homemade meals and desserts; where there was always plenty of food, love and laughter to go around for everyone. Usually there was enough food to spill over into the evening meal as kids played and adults visited with one another throughout the afternoon.

Fern is preceded in death by her parents; a son, Monte Hill; a granddaughter, Terri Snipes; and her two brothers and two sisters.

Left to cherish her memory is her beloved husband of over 70 years, Darwin Hill of Aquilla; her daughters, Cheryl Hill Snipes and husband David of Aquilla, and Beverly Hill Ham and husband Russell of Dike; daughter-in-law, Paula Hill of Aquilla; grandchildren, Colter Snipes and wife Megan, Allen McCutchan and wife Jennifer, Mark Hill and wife Amanda, Joshua Hill and wife Caitlin, Elizabeth Olsen and husband Thaynne, Erika St. John and husband Zach, Ethan Ham and wife Taylor, and Eli Ham and wife Mollye; 17 great-grandchildren; 3 great great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Tress Blassingame and Bettie Hill; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lebanon Church Building Fund or Smith Bend-Coon Creek Cemetery Association.