Leroy "Roy" Arthur Hills

LeRoy Arthur "Roy" Hills, age 90, died December 9, 2013 at his home. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Summerville Baptist Church. To view the unedited obituary and sign the on-line guestbook visit: www.danielsknopp.com.

Roy was born in Blackwell, Oklahoma on February 28, 1923, He was raised by adoptive parents, Willie and Mary Aswell in San Antonio, Texas. He enlisted in the Army in 1937. He went on to officers candidate school in 1943. He served in India, Berma and China and was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain in 1946. He met and married DeLeva Hug in January of 1944 while he was stationed at Pendleton Air Field in Pendleton, Oregon. After the war they settled in Summerville. Roy worked for many years at Mt. Emily Lumber Mill in La Grande while working the family farm in Summerville. The family moved to Chicago in 1959 for Roy to attend Moody Bible Institute. They returned to Union County in 1971. He worked for Boise Cascade Particle Board Plant until retirement in 1985. He and DeLeva enjoyed being campground hosts throughout the states for several years. He best liked the job as host at Bonneville Dam. He began serving as pastor at the Union Baptist Church in 1994 and served until his health declined. Roy loved his Lord Jesus and served Him most of his adult life. He had great love for his wife of almost 70 years and his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Although he was raised a city boy he loved hunting and fishing in Eastern Oregon. He was a musician, playing his guitar and singing. He was a song writer, writing words and music to many gospel songs. He played with his son Ton and Jan Kelly on the piano for many years at the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence.

Survivors include his wife, DeLeva Hills of Island City; son and his wife, Ron and Marla Hills of Summerville; daughter, Tanja Gorham of Island City; grandchildren and their families; Clayton Scott Hills and wife, April and children, Courtney and Adam, Stacey Rynearson and husband, Brad and children, Lylee, Claire and Brandon, Jeremy Hills and wife, Jennifer and children, Grant and Garret, Jennifer Goodman and husband, James and children, Shay and Chance, Todd Gorham and wife, Wendy and children, Adam and his wife, Alyssa and Asley and her husband, David and daughter, Emma, Scott Gorham and wife, Donna and children, Seth and Lube, James Gorham and son, Cade, Jason Gorham and wife, Angela and children, Brant, Natalie and Owen. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Howard Hills.

Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice.

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