Alice McCaghy Hill

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Alice McCaghy Hill, 93, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at Community Springs Healtcare Facility, El Dorado Springs, Mo. She was born May 5, 1912, in Blue Mound Township, Vernon County, Mo. She was the daughter of David and May Palmer McCaghy.

She attended Blue Mound School, Harwood High School and graduated from Nevada High School in the class of 1929. She worked as a secretary in Chicago, Kansas City, Nevada and Washington, D. C. During her 10 years in Washington she was the Secretary for James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy and the first Secretary of the Defense.

She married Roy Lee Hill Oct. 5,1949, in Nevada. He preceded her in death May 5, 1995. Also preceding her in death were her father and mother, David and May McCaghy; three brothers, George, William and Arthur Alphonzo "Pat" McCaghy, and four sisters, Celeste Miller, Hazel Green, Mildred Leonard, and Eileen "Sister" Angeline McCaghy.

She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Mary Ellen Leonard Arturi of Villa Park, Ill., Rita Leonard Breeding of Ocala, Fla., Wayne Leonard, of Streamwood, Ill., Gregory Leonard of Nevada, Faith Leonard Dallas of Denver, Colo., Milo Leonard of Costa Mesa, Calif., Catherine Green Breeding, Yuma, Ariz., Raphael Green Redburn of Charlotte, N.C., Regina Green Meyer of Beryn, Ill., Dale Krumenauer of Germantown, Wis,, Cecelia McCaghy Baker of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and Vincent McCaghy of Bellevue, Neb. Among others, her cousin Doris Alseth of Park Rapids, Minn., and a dear friend whom she always cherished, William (Bill) McCaffree of Nevada.

Alice was very active in her community. She served as President of the Nevada B.P.W. Club, St. Mary's Altar and Rosary Society, and as chairman of the Nevada Community Betterment during its formative years. In 1984, the Nevada Rotary Club named her "Woman of the Year." She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. She was an active member by supporting and working for the Vernon County Historical Society.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., on Thursday, Dec. 15, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Nevada, with Father Anthony Pileggi as celebrant. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Schell City, Mo. Friends may call now and until 8:30 a.m., on Thursday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Rosary services will be held at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday with visitation following at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.

Those who wish may conbibute to the Vernon County Historical Society in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituaryand send condolences online at www.ferrryfuneralhome.com