Doris Gill

Doris Mae Hickman Gill, first born child of Lillian Mae Roseberry and Paul Jones Hickman was born January 8, 1924, at the C.G. Roseberry home on South G Street in Broken Bow, NE.

She and her parents lived on a farm near Litchfield where she attended grade school, moving to Custer County when she was a 3rd grader and attended Elton and Tappan Valley Schools near Broken Bow.  Doris attended high school for two years at Broken Bow before moving to a farm near Sargent where she graduated in 1942.  She worked in Reiers Department store in Sargent until her father was hospitalized for several months and she went home to care for the livestock as her brother and sister were attending high school in Sargent.

Doris and John were married October 3, 1943, in Broken Bow and lived on the Gill farm in Somerford Valley southwest of Sargent 80 years, where she passed on August 19th, 2023, after fighting hard against CHF, Congestive Heart Failure.

Doris and John worked together on their small farm while raising three daughters. Doris helped at the Spinning Wheel store in Sargent for several years, worked with 4-H members, sponsored many band trips, and was a news correspondent for the Sargent Leader and Custer County Chief for 74 years.  When asked what the biggest change was, she lived through she would quickly respond “electricity”.

Doris loved sewing clothes for her family, quilting, and crafts, cooking and gardening.  She shared many meals, baked goods, and fresh garden produce with neighbors and friends. Several of her recipes have been published locally and nationally.  She loved visiting, especially with the little kids and was always willing to lend a helping hand.  There is so much more that can be said about her 99 years of life.

Doris loved her family very much and was always happy to be included in all their activities and achievements.  Survivors are her daughters Jean Marie Holoun (Eugene) of Berthoud CO, Jane Ann Lang (Jim Wallace) of Lexington NE and Julie Mae Kemp (Monte) of Sargent NE.  Grandsons Terry Holoun (Whitney) of Aurora CO, T.J. Holoun (Sue) of Loveland CO, Gavin Kemp (Caitlynn) of Sargent NE and Justin Kemp of Peoria IL, nieces and nephews, cousins and many many friends and neighbors.

Preceding her in death were her husband, parents, a baby brother Lynn Byron Hickman, brother Eugene Lewis Hickman and sister Glenna Mary Spanel Abbott.

Memorials are suggested to the Friends of the Sargent Library, Backpack Program at the Sargent School or to the donor’s choice.

A Memorial service will be held at the Weissert Church, 80298 South Weissert Road, Ansley NE 68814, just seven miles south of the family farm, on Saturday, September 2nd at 10:00 am.  Cookies and coffee will be served following the service in the church basement.