Jeannette F. Hill went to meet the Lord on Feb. 20, 2009. Jeannette was born May 5, 1938, in Dallas, Texas. She accepted Christ as her savior at the age of 12 and was baptized at East Grand Baptist Church in Dallas, and that relationship was the driving force in her marriage and life thereafter.

Jeannette met Don when she was 12 and Don 13. They married when she was 16 and Don was 17 and started their family two years later. They were married July 31, 1954, and 55 years was marked by the joyful celebration of the 55th anniversary of their engagement on Valentine’s Day. Jeannette enjoyed ice skating at a young age and spent many years playing classical piano. Jeannette and Don lived in Phoenix for 26 years and were very blessed to see all three of their children accept the Lord Jesus Christ and each was baptized at First Southern Baptist Church in Phoenix.

Jeannette was a talented artist. She enjoyed many different techniques and mediums but specialized in oil paintings, calligraphy, quillery, and lost wax. She enjoyed working with Don creating wire wrap gold jewelry. She continued her work in art throughout her life and shared her talents with her church and community.

Jeannette served in her church as a Sunday school teacher, director of Children’s Programs, church secretary and was involved in the youth group. Jeannette also enjoyed her time working with the Southern Baptist Convention. Jeannette went back to school at the age of 35 and graduated with high honors from Grand Canyon College in Phoenix, earning a BA in Liberal Arts. Jeannette worked with Project Potential (gifted students) at the elementary and junior high level, teaching art and core academic subjects. She also taught calligraphy at the college level, was a licensed Realtor in Phoenix and was a certified appraiser in both Phoenix and Seattle.

Jeannette has always had a servants heart and since moving to Whidbey Island 17 years ago has enjoyed volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy Center and South Sheriff Precinct (finger printing). Her greatest joy was her Lord, family and in serving others. Jeannette was known for her kind, gentle spirit, positive attitude, good nature, warm smile, and love of travel. She looked forward to the adventure along the way.

Jeannette and Don grew very close to members of the Whidbey Evangelical Free church and other friends here on the island. Jeannette trusted God through all stages of her life. God brought her to victory at the end of her battle with cancer with a new life in Heaven. Her life on this earth was marked by her love and trust in God. She exhibited Christ-like behavior that was evident in all that she did and in the words she spoke. Jeannette loved her husband greatly and looked forward to every moment that she spent with him. She loved her family, church family and her friends dearly and spent many hours praying for them. Her greatest wish was that others would see the love of Christ through her and know and accept the Lord as their savior.

Jeannette is survived by her husband Don; three daughters and their spouses, Terry and Dennis Warren, Donna and Dave Kurtz and Carol and Dave Moe; nine grandchildren, DeLynn Warren, Christina (husband David) Lewis, Michelle (husband Kevin) Pierce, Larissa Warren, Joey Kurtz, Tricia Kurtz, Jacob Kurtz, Lily Moe and Abbey Moe; and six great-grandchildren, Jonny Lewis, Caleb Lewis, Titus Lewis, Jeanetta Lewis, Waylon Pierce and Weston Pierce.

Jeannette is also survived by her sister Dorothy Warren and husband Gilbert and her niece and nephew Ginny and Adam Sahyouni. She will be missed by all, especially her husband Don. Their lives were intertwined.

We are celebrating her new life in Heaven and look forward to our reunion with her one day when we also will meet our savior face to face.

Burial was at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville with a Celebration of Jeannette’s life following at Whidbey Evangelical Free Church in Greenbank.

Burley Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor was entrusted with arrangements.