Arthur Leroy Hill Jr.

[Guest Nicole]

Arthur Hill Jr., known by many of his friends as Mick, passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

He was born on Oct. 3, 1933. He grew up in and around Parsons with his parents, Arthur and Amelia, and his sister, Lorraine Thompson.

In 1953, he married Patricia Moore/Harris who preceded him in death by almost 10 years. Mick and Patti’s family grew to include four sons, Fletcher, Marshall, Zachary and Lincoln; nine grandchildren, Tanesa, Barak, Brynn, Sage, Spencer, Kailee, Amelia, Dakota and Stormy; three great-grandchildren, Stettler, Tinley and Kannon; and also foster grandchildren, Josh and Larry.

Mick graduated from Parsons High School, then attended Labette Community Junior College. He was a carpenter by trade, always a member of the local carpenter’s union. He was in business with his dad and uncle and built many homes and commercial buildings in this region. Before retirement, he let his contracting company, Parsons Construction Co., wind down and went to work at Dwayne’s Photo. He was very involved with the Parsons Historical Society as the museum’s current location was built. He also served on the Parsons Planning Commission during the years urban renewal built the Parsons Plaza. He got together with a few close friends, formed a corporation, and built Silver Wheels skating rink. 

He loved fishing and camping, playing tennis and was active in a local chess club and camera club. When he was young, before scuba was popular, he and a friend designed and built a compressor-fed diving helmet and used it diving in area strip pits. Later, he took up scuba diving and it became a big part of his familyÂ’s life. He enjoyed diving and spearfishing with all of his sons and grandchildren, late into life. His last big dive trip was diving the reefs in Cozumel with his family when he was 75 years old.

After Patti passed away, Mick enjoyed living with his mother and sister for a little while. He married again for a short time, moved to Grand Lake and began remodeling a fishing cabin that his parents had built back in the 1950s. He divorced and came back to Parsons, and lived in Woodridge Estates, then Elmhaven East. He was a member of the Parsons congregation of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses. He entered hospice care in the final week of his life and had a short period with family and friends visiting to share stories and say goodbye.

Mick was happiest when he was planting a tree, nursing an injured hawk back to health, fishing at an area pond, or swimming face down in a rock quarry, lake or the ocean. With that in mind, in lieu of food or flowers, please make a donation in MickÂ’s name to any one of these organizations: The National Audubon Society, the Parsons Arboretum, the Parsons Historical Society, the Sierra Club or the National Wildlife Federation.

Mick’s sons plan to have a private ceremony at a later date to scatter his ashes at one of his favorite places. But his family invites you to a visitation honoring Mick from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Parsons Arboretum, 2004 Briggs Ave, Parsons. 

http://www.parsonssun.com/obituaries/article_2bf4c5f0-d4c5-11e7-a74d-4b12b44f238a.html