Deb Hill

Our community lost a bright light on the morning of June 11, 2020, Deb Hill may have lost her battle with cancer but she will tell you she gained so much more.

Deborah Lynn Hill was born in Sedalia on April 5, 1960, the youngest child of Ralph and Marcile Moenkhoff Hill.

Her childhood, like so many in the area, was spent at the Lake of the Ozarks where her  folks had a resort.  She became an almost “city girl” when her mom and dad sold the resort and purchased a store in Versailles, Hill’s Market, where she learned her work ethic by working alongside her parents and siblings.  Debbie, as she was known at that time, went to school at Morgan County R-II in Versailles and was a member of the 1978 graduating class.

Over the years Debbie became Deb, which really suited her personality; no frills and to the point.  You see, Deb did everything with a purpose and that purpose was to live life to the fullest and bring joy to those around her.  Her smile could light up a room and she was always ready with a quick comeback and if you were lucky enough to be her friend, you had a friend for life.

For 38 years she was a dedicated employee at Gates Rubber Company in Versailles and was still employed at Gates at the time of her death.

When she wasn’t working, her time was filled with being a good neighbor and chasing ghosts as part of the “Just Say Boo" Team.

Deb loved her family, which consisted of her siblings and their spouses, Gary and Donna Hill of Holts Summit; Daryle and Lisa Hill of Eldon and Pamela Ramey of Versailles, along with her beloved nephews and nieces, Cliff Hill, Tina Crane, Matt Hill, Tonya Taylor and Mark Ramey, several great nieces and nephews and her beloved friends.

To talk with Deb you soon realized how deep her faith was and she drew on that faith to get her through her many health battles.  She was a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in Versailles. As an infant she was baptized on May 15, 1960 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sweet Springs and confirmed April 7, 1974 at Grace Lutheran Church, with her appropriate confirmation verse given from John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."   Even though she didn’t always understand the why of her illnesses; she never doubted that God loved her and had a plan.  So on that Thursday morning when Deb left this world, she knew the promise that had been given to her at her baptism was realized;  not only was she reunited with her mom and dad but more importantly she got to meet her Savior face to face.  The words of Paul in II Timothy 4:7 ring so true for Deb, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”

In keeping with her wishes, she was cremated.

The family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. at the Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home in Versailles.  Funeral services for Deb will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Versailles with Pastor Erik Rottmann officiating.  Burial will be in the Versailles Cemetery.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church.