Mama's Father: Guy Phillip Hill

I askedmama what she remembered about her dad, Guy Phillip Hill. He died when she was only 71/2 years so she doesn't remember much. 

He was born November 12, 1904 in Bountiful, Utah to John William Hill and Sarah Ann Frisby Hill. Guy and Eva Cowley Willey met when they were in high school. She was a 6 months older and a grade ahead because she skipped a year. As a side note, mom said her elementary school wanted her to skip 5th or 6th grade but grandma always said no.  

Guy and Eva married on his 21st birthday, November 12, 1925. They had 4 children, Dean, Kieth, Beth Ann and David. Guy had a "toxic goiter" that must have made him a very sick man. He worked driving cars to and from Detroit and would pass out going into Little America in Wyoming due to the altitude. Mama remembers walking down the street with him and he would have to stop to catch his breath every block or so. They were living with his parents and he tried to help dig a half basement when he was home from his cross country drives and would have to stop and rest. For some reason his mother got really cross with him and told everyone he was a lazy bum who wouldn't work hard for his mother. ( I asked mom if I should put that in and she said "why not, that's what happened.)  Mom also remembers that the family received a box of oranges from a caring friend and her grandmother kept them all. "I never had one of those oranges."

 The doctor told Guy that he would have to have surgery or he would die. They didn't have the money, but finally his brother John said he would pay for the operation. But before he could have the surgery, he died on May 4, 1941 after eating a meal that included early spring radishes, he thought he had bad indigestion from the spicy food and went out to the outhouse. When he didn't come back in Uncle John went out to look for him and found him collapsed by the outhouse door. Mama remembers the doctor trying to revive him by jabbing a long needlle into his heart. She cried out "Don't you hurt my daddy!" He was 36 years old. She was 7. Mama  saiid that her mother never had radishes in the house again.

Mom said her fathers' death didn't sink in until she was sitting in front of his casket during the funeral and realized that her father was really dead and not coming back. Then she started crying and was inconsolable. 

This picture was taken after the funeral. Butch or Uncle Dave was 9 months, Uncle Dean was 14 1/2,  Uncle Keith was 13 1/2 and mom was 7 1/2 years old