John Wayland Hill

John Wayland Hill, passed away leaving behind a legacy of love, adventure, and a large, devoted family. Born in Bakersfield, California on June 30, 1939, John was raised in Oregon before embarking on a life full of travel and deep connections.

At just 17 years old, John joined the United States Navy. He was stationed on the USS Princeton, where he learned the trade of an Interior Communications Electrician (IC man)—a skill that would ultimately become the foundation of his lifelong career.

John’s entrepreneurial spirit and love for new surroundings took him to Hawaii, where he lived for about 16 years. He later relocated his company to Texas, settling in Irving. John had a passion for traveling and a deep love for entertaining, frequently filling his home with laughter, warmth, and friends. He was also an avid collector, with anything related to John Wayne always holding the top spot in his collection.

In 2013, John met his life partner, BJ Lancaster. Both having been married before, they chose to blend their lives together in a deeply meaningful partnership. Though they will dearly miss celebrating their thirteenth anniversary together, the years they shared was filled with happiness.

John is survived by his loving sister, Kathleen Facio, and her husband, Danny of Keller, TX; his daughter, Kathaleen Hill, and her life partner, Gwenna Polley of Dallas, TX; his sister Carolyn Martin of Cape Girardeau, MO; brother Albert Lee Hill of Vallejo, CA; and his son, John Christopher Hill, his wife, Rosa, and their daughter, Emily of Saginaw, TX. He is preceded in death by his father, Wayland John Hill, his mother, Virginia Dean (Tabor) Hill, and brother Michael Liles of Portland, OR.

Along with his biological family, John embraced and inherited a very large, loving family through his partnership. He is survived by his "Son-in-Life," Michael B. Smith; grandchildren Quinn Berryman Smith, Erin Marie Smith, Ian Galloway Smith, and Lisa Smith Schaaf; and great-grandchildren Iris Bellinger, Zoe Keil, and Benjamin Boydstun. John’s adopted family-in-life loved him immensely. He wholeheartedly stepped up to the plate as a grandfather, creating unforgettable memories that they will cherish forever.