My dad was a hard working man and did not have time for himself often. He was either working at the bakery or in our large gardens or adding on to our home. One of the things he did enjoy when he did have the time was playing his guitar and fiddle. He was self taught and played by ear. He was in several country bands through out the years. He would often play at the Opera that was held at the old Palace movie theatre in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He played several times on the "John Chick" show. It was a local morning show on channel 8 out of Tulsa, Oklahoma
My dad Jack Cleveland Hill was born July 06, 1927 in Patrick, Arkansas to William Henry & Annie Prater Hill (Patrick, Arkansas was named after my 3rd Great Grandfather Robert Patrick). Jack was born in a cabin built by his dad. He was the 5th child out of 6 children born to Henry & Annie.
The family moved to Washington County, Arkansas when Jack was a very young child. They packed all of their things into wagons and covered them with a tarp they had got from a neighbor. Jack's older brother Hugh that was riding a mule kept the livestock in line.
Jack's family was very poor and they all had to work hard for everything they got. Moonshine was also s good source of income. Jack helped in this when he was a teen and also liked to sample it often when he was younger. This information I know just from family stories because I never saw my dad drink anything and it was never in our home.
Jack went to a small school in Wheeler, Arkansas and only went to the 6th grade. He worked for some time in a fish hatchery, he would raise tomatoes for extra money, and he was also a carpenter.
Jack first married Eula Vay Haley abt 1945. They had two daughters Janice Rosann Hill & Eva Lynnette Hill. Eula Vay was expecting their third child when she got toxemia and passed away at age 22. Jack was at work when he got the call that his young bride had passed away. This sad news was a shock to Jack. He knew she was ill but had no idea it was so serious.
Loretta Rose Walker had came to Fayetteville, Arkansas from North Dakota with a girlfriend who had relatives in Fayetteville. The girls went to a dance one night and that is where Loretta meet Jack. They hit it off and Loretta never went back to North Dakota with her girlfriend. She married Jack and they had 4 children together. Jack Jr.,
Euletta, Billy & Lenora. Loretta never formally adopted Jacks daughters from his first marriage but she raised them as her own.
For a short time after they were married the couple moved to North Dakota for Jack to work in the wheat fields for Loretta's father and other farmers in the area. Jack could not handle the cold winters up north and the family moved back to Arkansas. Other times Jack would go to Oregon where his older sister Bonnie and her husband lived. He would work there then return to Arkansas. He also moved to California for a short time where he worked but the always would return to his home in Arkansas. Jack finally landed a good paying stable job with the Shipley Baking Company in Fayetteville. Jack worked for that company for about 30 years.
Jack loved to play country music and was in several different bands in Northwest Arkansas. He would often play at the Opera on Saturday nights at the old Palace Theatre in Fayetteville. He would also play at the Hoe Down in Prairie Grove, Arkansas or just anywhere he could. Jack also really enjoyed auctions and mom never knew when he might come home with an old classic car or truck. The other thing dad loved to do was work in the garden. Of course this was also a necessity as well as fun for dad.
As dad got older and slowed down he could not go and play his music to crowds anymore but he still played his guitar and fiddle at home for his own enjoyment. When he was admitted to the City Hospital right before his death people would come to the hospital to play for the patients. Jack would spend the whole week getting ready for these people to come because he was always asked to play with them.
When dad became to ill with Parkinsons disease to join the others in the main room there was one man in this music group that would come to dads room after they had performed for the others. He would come to hear dad play and to play with him. It might just be a song or two but that would make my dad so very happy. I do not know this mans name but this simple act of kindness from this stranger I will forever be grateful, because he brought so much joy to my dad when the days seemed so long .
Jack died at City Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas January 15, 2000. He is buried in Mt. Comfort Cemetery between his first wife Eula Vay and my mother Loretta. |
