Clifford Elton Hill

January 19, 1925 - November 6, 2016

Clifford Elton Hill rancher, outfitter, water commissioner, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, friend, and lifelong resident of Plateau Valley passed over the great divide on November 6, 2016, and now resides at home with his Maker.

Clifford was born in a two room log cabin located on Plateau Creek near Collbran, Colorado on January 19, 1925, to Kenneth and Louise (Flatt) Hill. Clifford was the youngest of five children and grew up working on the family ranch and graduated from Collbran Union High School. In 1945, Clifford joined the Army where he received basic training in Texas. There he qualified as a sharp shooter and was deployed overseas to Korea where he completed his tour of duty and was the recipient of an honorable discharge from the Army.

Clifford returned to the Plateau Valley and began his own ranch operation and during this time he met and married Janice Ruth Hutchinson and together they worked hard and raised three sons, Chris, Wade, and David. Clifford and Janice often said these were the best years of their lives with a lot of laughter, adventure, tears, and trials full of horses, dogs, cows and trails that somehow they all made it through. In the 1960's Clifford and Janice founded Hill's Guide Service that remains in operation near Vega Lake. Clifford had a love of good horses and dogs and spent a lifetime refining his cattle herd and perfecting the irrigation system on his properties to his considerable ability. He loved to ride horses, read good books, take his wife, Janice, out dancing when he had the chance and spend time on his ranch with his friends and family.

Clifford was always willing to offer help to any one in need and welcomed many people into the Plateau Valley community. He had an amazing memory about the history of the Plateau Valley and lives of people who lived and passed through the area and assisted several authors who wrote historic books about the area.

Clifford is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Louise, and siblings, John, Malcom, Lawrence, and Ida Mae.

The family has requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Roice-Hurst Humane Society in lieu of flowers.

A special thank you is extended to the wonderful staff at the Veterans Community Living Center in Grand Junction.

Clifford's celebration of life will be held at the Plateau Valley Assembly Church, 57228 Highway 330, Collbran, Colorado on Saturday November 12, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the graveside service that will immediately follow at Eaglalite Cemetery.