James O Hill

James O. Hill was born February 10, 1928 in Flo, Texas to Oss and Katie Shaw Hill. He passed away on August 27, 2021 at his home in Centerville, Texas. He was the eighth of nine children, husband of Oneta Grimes Hill. His father was a farmer, but from the time he was a little boy, all he wanted to do was be a cowboy. Although he had other jobs throughout his life, he managed to do just that. He loved horses and dogs, and raised many good-blooded horses, cow dogs, and hog dogs. He also raised goats, sheep and hogs.

James O. was always a hard worker. As a teenager, he got a job driving an Oliver Tractor on the wheat harvest, and later planted coastal and Bermuda grass all over Leon County. At sixteen, he was issued a birth certificate so he could go work in Houston to make seventy-five dollars to buy a horse. He worked in Louisiana on a pipeline, and went on to drive a Hostess Cupcake truck from Centerville to Houston for eighteen years. He taught all of his grandchildren to drive before they were out of elementary school school. James O. met Oneta at a volleyball game.

In 1975, James O. was elected Leon County Judge and served two terms. There was always a place at his kitchen table for Leon County citizens to voice their concerns over a cup of coffee or a chew of Levi Garret. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Cowboy Church of Leon County.

James O. certainly touched the lives of many people! He was loved by many and will be greatly missed! The Hill family would like to thank Reliant Home Hospice for the excellent care James O. received even before the last days. Erika and Ashley treated him with such love and kindness.

James O. was preceded in death by his wife, Oneta Grimes Hill; daughter-in-law, Wanda Lee Hill; both of his parents; brother, Raymond Hill; sisters, Fannie Parker, Fay Ward, Lois Moore, Lydia Gresham, Nona Jo Coleman, Wanda Craig and Kathryn Langley.

He is survived by daughter Katy Watson (Larry); son, Jim Hill; grandchildren, Teri Lawson (John), Amy Smith (Mark), Lynn Hill, Lisa Brooks (Deon), Jeff Hill (Mandy), JoBeth Brent (Stephen), Aaron Watson (Connie), Austin Watson and Angela Hertel (Michael) and nineteen great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Services for James O. will be held 2 P.M., Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the Cowboy Church of Leon County, Centerville, Texas. Pastor of the church, Tuffy Loftin, will officiate the service. Interment will follow in Brushy Cemetery in the Flo Community of Leon County, Texas. The Hill family will receive friends Wednesday, September 1st from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. at Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cowboy Church of Leon County.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas.