Beverly Ann Cordon Hill

My Grandma Hill passed away today and I wanted to post some pictures of this wonderful woman and share just one memory of her--a memory that has spanned the last 20+ years of my life.

When I was in late elementary school, my grandparents lived in the same condo complex in Aurora, CO. On most days, my mom needed to head across town to her school before I needed to be at Polton Elementary, so I would walk to my grandparents condo and spend some time chatting and drinking orange juice with them before heading off to school myself. Durning this time, my grandma began the tradition of giving me lectures--nutrition lectures, smiling lectures, fashion lectures, enthusiasm lectures, etc. This is no joke--I really did go to my grandparents condo every Saturday for a month because I was taking "enthusiasm lectures" from Grandma Hill because I was reading a book during one of my brother's baseball games.

These lectures lasted throughout my teenage life and into my twenties. The day after my high school graduation my grandparents took me out for a Blizzard at Dairy Queen. My grandma sat across the seat from me and said, "Michelle, no matter what you study in college make sure you are employable when you graduate. You need to be employable." I laugh because I still see the wear marks in the steps of the library at BYU in remembering all of the times I would walk up and down those stinking stairs and hear my Grandma's voice in my head,

Michelle: "Maybe I want to major in Humanities."

Bev: "Be employable."

Michelle: "Maybe Anthropology."

Bev: "Be employable."

Michelle: "How about ... "

Bev: "Be employable."

So I majored in education, following in the footsteps of Mrs. Hill--a retired 5th grade teacher--and was employed for over 5 years as a teacher before starting my family. I feel good knowing that I have a way to provide and add to the well being of my family if needed and I owe much of that to the example and the strength of my grandma.

Another one of my favorite lectures began as grandma realized that my cousin Jen and I were getting close to graduating from college without getting married. These "flirting lectures" were pretty classic and very entertaining. Not that either one of us got married before graduating, but you know when your grandma says, "I would be right back out there because I still got it" you are in for some fun times. And as a side note, I have been dancing with her and she did still have it.

When Adam and I were engaged, he walked my grandparents around the USAFAcademy--my Grandpa Hill is a retired B-29 pilot. During the tour, my grandma pulled Adam to the side and decided to give him a pre-wedding lecture by saying, "Make sure you are marrying someone who can carry her end of the couch." Adam did just that but when I have to help him move all of our stuff up to our 3rd floor apartment without the help of one home teacher I am cursing my grandma's words the whole way up and down.

Some of the lectures were serious and some were funny but I appreciate the love she demonstrated for me in always wanting the best. She was a spunky, strong, dedicated, talented patriotic, liver of life. I will miss her lectures and her encouragements and her hugs.

Love you Grandma.