Gary Ronald Hill, 76, of Sunnydell, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Monticello Assisted Living Facility in Idaho Falls. He was born June 16, 1938, to Jesse Ronald Hill and Edna Viola Wilcox. He was joined by a sister, Bonnie Colleen, and a brother, Holley "Jay" Hill.

He attended schools in Sunnydell, Archer and graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg. He also attended Ricks College where he excelled in mechanics which later became his career.

Gary was an outdoors man and enjoyed hunting, boating, water skiing, 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and flying his airplane.

He was a workaholic and at a young age was working for his Dad on the farm, milking cows, and working in his Dad's potato warehouse. When he graduated from high school, he went to Silverbow, Montana, to work in a factory his Dad shared ownership in, making cinderblocks used for highway trusses and ceiling trusses.

Gary met Donna Marie Nielson when he moved from Sunnydell to Archer school in the fourth grade, and they enjoyed each other's company all through their school days. They were married July 31, 1959, in Archer and were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on December 15, 1960.

At the time of their marriage, Gary worked at Challenge Creamery in Rexburg, farmed, and later worked at Roger Brothers in Idaho Falls, plus milking a dairy herd.

In March 1963, Gary and Donna and their two children moved to Tremonton, Utah, where Gary worked at Thiokol, a government owned company that made components for rocket fuel. However, when President Kennedy was assassinated and the plant was closed a year later, they moved back home to Sunnydell, and Gary began working as a mechanic for Taylor Chevrolet in Rexburg. In 1967, Gary and a fellow worker, Verl Bird, joined in partnership and started their own mechanic business, PDQ Auto Shop. When Gary retired from PDQ he became a full time farmer/rancher.

In the late 70's, Gary fulfilled a dream and took flying lessons to become a pilot. He and Kirk Webster became joint owners of a Cessna 182. Later he purchased his own airplane. He thoroughly enjoyed this hobby, and flying became his stress reliever. In 2012 he sold his Cessna and started building a Kit Fox Airplane but was unable to finish it before Alzheimer's set in.

Gary was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as membership clerk to three bishops and as a home teacher.

He is survived by his wife of 55 ½ years and children Lori Ann (George) Kelly of San Diego, California, and Gary Vance Hill of Archer, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, a brother, Holley "Jay" (Lana) Hill. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Bonnie.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 6, at the Sunnydell LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Sutton Cemetery.

The family would like to express appreciation to the employees at Monticello and Aspen Home Health and Hospice for their tender care of Gary.