Dorothy Hill

Dorothy Louise Routledge Hill passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at her home in Roswell, NM. She was born on January 16, 1923, in Jemez Springs, NM, to Arthur and Ethel McClaskey Routledge, 2nd generation New Mexico pioneers. The family will have a private memorial service at a later date. A tribute of Dorothy’s life may be found at www.andersonbethany.com where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for her family. Dorothy was one of the last of the “Jemez Women,” daughters and granddaughters of the Jemez who lived lives of grit and determination through the Great Depression and World War II. After completing a teaching degree at UNM, Dorothy married Alex M. Hill on September 10, 1944, just before he was shipped off to Europe. She always said they were married for a year before they lived together, the reverse of the modern trend. She lived in Long Beach, CA, that year working as a parts clerk at Douglas Aircraft, where her sister, Elizabeth was a riveter, her mother (also a teacher) was a secretary, and her brother, Herbert was a mathematician, while her other brother, Joseph served in Okinawa. After the war, Alex and Dorothy lived on the Jess Corn Ranch, then bought a farm north of Roswell where they raised cattle, cotton and their kids, Steve, Alexis, Andrea and Danna. After moving to town, Dorothy reveled in being a Brownie as well as Cub Scout Leader and room mother at Parkview Grade School. The family moved to the Albuquerque area in 1957, where Dorothy became a 4 H leader and taught part-time at the Cochiti Indian School, and had their 5th baby Jay in 1960. The family then returned to Roswell in 1963, where she continued substitute teaching and excelled as an officer in Agricultural Extension Club as a state officer. In 1973, Alex moved his business to California where Dorothy reclaimed her love of horsemanship, began painting and completed a degree at San Diego State. Alex and Dorothy spent the eighties in Temple, TX, and retired to Roswell, NM, in 1992, where they built their last home. Dorothy continued to teach as a substitute until age 85, where her last few years were spent once again at Parkview Elementary. She was also a devoted CASA volunteer, giving her time and resources selflessly to her kids at Assurance Home. Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved son, Jay in 1996; husband, Alex in 1999; father, mother and two brothers. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Regier of Pamona, CA; son, Steve Hill of Roswell, NM; daughters: Andrea Smith-Leach of Roswell, NM, Alexis Turley (Victor) of Salado, TX, Danna Masters (Douglas) of Temple, TX; ten grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Dorothy would also want to mention her dearest friends: Nancy and Linton Miller; lifelong BFFs- sister-in-law, Mardell Routledge and her sister, Ila Farris. For all of her life, Dorothy was the girl who loved horses and the Jemez Mountains. All she ever wanted as a child was to go home to the ranch at Jemez Springs. Her wish to have her ashes and those of Alex and Jay spread in the Jemez together will be fulfilled by her surviving children, and she will finally be home once again. Contributions may be made to CASA in Roswell, NM, in Dorothy’s memory. This tribute was lovingly written in honor of Dorothy by her family.

Dorothy Hill

January 16, 1923 - June 20, 2017