SOLON – James Leland Hills, 88, died Dec. 10, 2010, in Portland, due to complications related to heart surgery. James was born Oct. 6, 1922, in Marlboro, Mass., son of Orlando G. and Annie Lillian (Hoffman) Hills. James’ ancestors came to this country in 1638 and he was proud of the part they played in shaping this country. James served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, stationed in Panama as an aviation machinist’s mate third class. He attended Fitchburg State College on the GI Bill. He was an industrial arts and special education teacher, and coach in Solon, Beverly, Mass., and North Andover, Mass. To supplement his income he worked as a ranger at Harold Parker State Forest, North Andover, Mass. Upon retirement, James served as a selectman in Solon for 14 years. He was a 32nd degree Mason and member of Scottish Rite and Massachusetts Consistory; was a past master of Keystone Lodge; past patron of Keystone Chapter Order of the Eastern Star; past dad advisor of North Reading Assembly International Order of Rainbow Girls; and past president of Somerset Chapter of Maine Municipal Association. James was always productive and never bored. He was an avid reader and hunter, planted three gardens each year, made maple syrup in the spring and loved to turn scrap lumber into strawberry baskets, apple boxes and birdhouses, which he sold at auction. He and his wife, Ellen, traveled extensively after retirement, visiting 49 states, all the Canadian provinces, many European countries, Turkey, the British Isles, Scandinavia and Iceland. James will be remembered most for his sense of humor, his ability to entertain listeners with his stories and his way of treating every day as an adventure. James is survived by his wife of more than 63 years, Ellen (Annable) Hills of Solon; sister, Sylvia Thompson of Nashua, N.H.; brother, Paul Hills, of Hudson, N.H.; his children, Bruce Hills and his wife, Teresa, of Solon, Paul E. Hills and his wife, Janice, of Ware, Mass., and Beth Clark and her husband, John, of Hartland; 11 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A family burial will be held Dec. 16 at Rainbow’s End Natural Cemetery, a green cemetery on land in Orrington, owned by the family for more than a century that he and his wife donated – working with the funeral consumers alliance of Maine to establish a corporation to run it. A memorial service honoring and celebrating James’ life will be held 1 p.m. Dec. 18 at Solon Congregational Church, 65 North Main St., Solon. A gathering will be afterward at Keystone Masonic Lodge, Falls Road, Solon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bangor Learning Center, 294 Union St., Suite 3, Bangor, ME 04401. Arrangements have been entrusted to Giberson Funeral Home, 18 River St., Bingham.
JAMES LELAND HILLS
