Mike Hill

James M. (Mike) Hill passed away June 10th, 2021 surrounded by his family, from complications related to pancreatic cancer. He was born October 18, 1942 in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Clarence Olive (C.O.) Hill and Thelma Jo Tucker as their only child. Mike grew up in Mineola, Texas and graduated in 1960 from Mineola High School with friends he has cherished throughout his lifetime. He went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in chemical engineering. After working in the chemical industry for several years, Mike earned a master’s in business administration at Lamar Tech in Beaumont, Texas. Later he moved his family to Houston, Texas where he opened his own brokerage firm for professional practices. His career quickly transitioned to becoming a highly-respected business appraiser, culminating in the formation of Hill Schwartz Spilker Keller, LLC from which he retired in 2019. In 1964, he married Penny DeAlba whom he met while attending the University of Texas. They quickly fell in love and spent the next 57 years building their life together. They have been blessed with five children, Mike Hill Jr., David Hill, Michelle Vance, Cynthia Hill and Lauren Palmer. Mike was the grandfather of twenty grandchildren and one great grandson on the way. He loved to provide and support his large family in all their endeavors. He valued education and encouraged his children to seek college degrees…as long as they attended the University of Texas. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1989, Mike and Penny and their five children were sealed together as an eternal family in the Dallas Texas Temple. Family was the motivating force for all he did. Also, as an Eagle Scout himself, participating in the Boy Scouts of America program of his church brought him great joy. Mike was very active in the American Society of Appraisers, helping to develop its first business valuation courses, serving as a founding member and later Chairman of its Business Valuation Committee, and directing multiple national conferences. He was also the first business valuation professional to serve as Chairman of the Appraisal Foundation. Mike is preceded in death by his father C.O. Hill, mother Thelma Tucker, grandson Mason Vance, and daughter-in-law Whitney Hill. His family has been overwhelmed by the love and support shown by countless friends, neighbors, medical care providers, church members and extended family over the many months of his illness. Services will be held on Tuesday, June 15 at Beaty Funeral Home (5320 S. State Hwy 37) in Mineola, Texas. A visitation will be held at 1pm, with funeral services beginning at 2pm followed by a brief graveside service at Roselawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following charities: - American Cancer Society (https://donate3.cancer.org) - Shriner’s Hospitals for Children (http://donate.lovetotherescue.org) - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate)