Barbara Lorraine Hillman

BARBARA LORRAINE HILLMAN On Sunday, August 16, 2015, Barbara Lorraine Hillman passed away peacefully as she wished, in her own home with her loving family beside her. She was born in Eureka August 26, 1932 to Roy and Gertrude Maloy. As first child and a first grandchild in her father's family, she was a cherished and pampered addition. She attended school in Eureka, and graduated from Eureka High School in 1950. She entered the work force, working first at Swanlund Studio and Camera Shop and then at Belcher's Abstract and Title Company. By 1954 she decided teaching was a better choice, and enrolled in Humboldt State University (then Humboldt State College), to pursue a major in elementary education. During her college years she met Robert Hillman. They were married August 11, 1957 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Eureka, and moved to RoHill Ranch in Fortuna. After receiving her degree from HSU in 1958, she taught third grade at South Fortuna Elementary School. Four children were born to Bob and Barbara, and although she still served as a substitute teacher, her main focus was wife and mother, (and later grandmother and great-grandmother). She was always ready to help as needed with kindness and love. As her children grew, she volunteered as often as possible with their activities, including acting as Blue Bird and Camp Fire Girl leader, assisting with Cub Scouts, and serving countless times as roommother for her children's classrooms. In her later years, she attended sports events at Fortuna High School for both her own children and her grandchildren. She took great pride in watching them participate in soccer, football, wrestling, track, softball and cheerleading. Retirement years included many RV'ing trips with Bob and other couples to Canada, Alaska, and across the USA. Family was the most important thing to Barbara and Bob, and many happy memories were made celebrating birthdays, holidays, and just enjoying impromptu get togethers and bar-b-que's at RoHill Ranch. Bob and Barbara were married 46 years at the time of Bob's passing. Her last months had a special joy: the arrival of newest great-grandchild Haven on Valentine's Day 2015. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, daughters Shari Hildebrandt and Sandra Hillman, and infant grandson Bradley Hildebrandt. Barbara is survived by her daughter Suzanne Hillman and her son Scott Hillman (Melinda); son-in-law Matthew Hildebrandt; grandchildren Logan Morrow (Melissa), Elyse Esget (Hal), Melanie Bialous, Kira Bialous, and Kaleb Cohoon-Hillman; great grandchildren Elektra Morrow, Kymbur Morrow, and Haven Esget; her sister Marcia Kelley; and a large, loving extended family of nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great grandchildren, cousins, and many friends. A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, September 1st, 2015, at the Fortuna Fire Hall, 320 South Fortuna Blvd, Fortuna from 2pm-5pm.

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