Hillard Robert ‘Hill’ Nicholson, 91, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident, passed away at his home on Wednesday, June 14, 2006.
He was born on October 31, 1914 in Cullowhee, North Carolina, the son of Lawrence & Lizzie Wiggins Nicholson.
Hill was raised and attended school in North Carolina, coming to Washington in the late 1930’s.
On November 20, 1940 he was united in marriage to Gertrude Ensley in Clarksville, Georgia and they made their home in Skagit County.
Hill worked as a tree faller in the timber industry working for several of the local logging companies around Skagit County for many years, with his last employer being Bill Johnson Logging.
Hill & Gert spent many long hours together raising a vegetable garden in the spring & summer months. What looked like hard work to most of us, was truly a love for them. They had a special nack of knowing just the right time to plant and many came to appreciate the fruits of their labor.
Upon retirement from logging, Hill began the hobby of clock building. He spent many waking hours in his shop giving special attention to the detail of his work. Gert would have to go out and get him to come in and eat, otherwise he would just continue to work. At one time there was a count of over 50 clocks that he had handcrafted, from small shelf clocks and wall hanging clocks to grandfather clocks.
Hill was baptized at the Ochre Hill Baptist Church in North Carolina and has been a member of the Hamilton First Baptist Church for many years. He was a special person who enjoyed having company and talking about the days in the woods or times of his youth back home in North Carolina. He enjoyed hunting & fishing and had a love for his family and especially enjoyed seeing his six great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Gertrude at the family home in Sedro-Woolley. Daughter and son-in-law, Peggy & Wes Allen of Sedro-Woolley; Grandson, Rod Allen and his wife Nancy and 2 granddaughters and their husbands, Kristie & Jim Fine and Kerri & Roger Helgeson. His six great-grandchildren, Andrea, Wes, Alicia, Zack, Cole and Katelyn. 3 sisters-in-law, Margaret Nicholson of Sedro-Woolley, Pat Nicholson of Lyman and Grace Nicholson of Springfield, Oregon and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers, Fred, Oscar and Frank and his twin brother Dillard Nicholson and a sister, Liz Jackson.
Hill’s family offers a special thanks to Earlene, Brook, MaryAnn, Debra and the other caregivers who took such wonderful care of Hill, as if he was one of their own family.
The family suggests memorials be made to Skagit Hospice or the Hamilton First Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 19, 2006 at 11:00 AM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Wylie Gibson from North Carolina & Pastor Ron Edwards of the Hamilton First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will following at the Burlington Cemetery. Visitation is available at and services under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.