Leo James Hill

Jim Hill (Big Jim), 91, passed away on Saturday, December 11, 2021, after suffering the effects of Alzheimer’s disease for the past few years. Many remember Jim as a beloved coach, father, and friend.

He was born at his family home in West Layton to Leo Beaven Hill and Verna Martha Kilfoyle Hill. Jim grew up on the Ranch alongside his two sisters Elaine and Donna and his brother Ron. He graduated from Davis High School in 1948. After high school, he attended Weber State College and competed on the tennis team.

Jim served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Northwestern States Mission. Most of his mission was served in Montana where he loved the people and especially enjoyed the time he spent serving as District President in Yellowstone Park.

Following his mission, he attended Brigham Young University on a tennis scholarship and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. While at BYU, he met his sweetheart Carolyn Bromley at a dance on the tennis court.  On June 17, 1953, they were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

After graduation from BYU, Jim earned a master’s degree from Washington State University. One of his first post college jobs was teaching and coaching basketball, baseball, football, and golf at Granite High School in Salt Lake City. He loved coaching and was successful at every level. He led teams to state championships in baseball at Granite High and girls basketball at Bountiful High.

In addition to coaching, Jim officiated all three major sports at the collegiate level, taught college classes in officiating, and assigned high school officials for the Utah High School Activities Association. Jim also kept stats for the University of Utah basketball team and was the official scorekeeper for the Salt Lake Gulls. In 1996 Jim was inducted into the UHSAA Circle of Fame. In 2008 he was inducted into the Utah Sports Officials Hall of Honor.

Jim worked for many years as the Director of Athletics, Drivers Education, and Health and Safety for the Davis School District.

Jim and Carolyn served a full-time mission in the Saint George Utah mission where they loved serving at the Church history sites and the temple visitors center.

Jim is survived by his wife of 68 years, Carolyn Bromley Hill; his brother Ron Hill; his children: Jan Whittaker (Scott), Jim Hill (Mary), Jeri Thomas (Mark), Judie Clark (Paul), and John Hill (Izumi) as well as 15 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters (Elaine Hansen and Donna Mae Perkins) and his daughter Jackie Hill.

A viewing will be held Sunday, December 19, 2021, at Russon Mortuary (295 N. Main Bountiful, Utah) from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The funeral services will take place Monday, December 20, 2021, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1825 S. 800 E. Bountiful, Utah from 11:00 AM to Noon. There will also be a viewing between 9:30 AM and 10:45 AM at the church building prior to the funeral. A graveside dedication will follow the funeral at the Memorial Lakeside Cemetery in Bountiful Utah.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.

A special thanks to all the people at Creekside Senior Living that cared for Jim “Coach” while he was a resident in the memory care unit these last few years.