Joe R. 'Coach' Hill

Funeral Service for Joe R. “Coach” Hill, 71, of Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at Vian High School Gymnasium in Vian, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Tahlequah City Cemetery in Tahlequah, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

Joe was born on September 12, 1950 in Miami, Oklahoma to Mildred (Trolinger) Hill and Elvin Hill and passed away on September 1, 2022 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He graduated from Jay High School in 1968 and from Northeastern State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He married April (Hall) Hill on August 10, 1973 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Joe was a basketball and baseball coach, taught Science and Biology and was a principal at several surrounding schools including Braggs, Gore and Vian, from which he retired. He was the former owner and operator of Big Daddy’s Restaurant on Lake Tenkiller for 39 years. Joe and April enjoyed traveling and spending time in Florida on the beach and golf course in their neighborhood. They also enjoyed traveling together across the United States in their motorhome when they were not at their primary residence on Lake Tenkiller with their menagerie of animals. In Joe’s spare time at the lake he enjoyed fishing with his son and brother.  He also enjoyed watching his granddaughter dance at all the NSU football games. Joe was a loving husband, father, pap pap and brother and will be greatly missed by all until we meet again.

Survivors are:

wife, April of the home;

1 daughter, Autumn Hill of Lake Tenkiller, OK;

1 son, Jamey Hill and Abby of Glenpool, OK;

2 grandchildren, Bailey Snellings and Ally;

1 brother, Jim Hill of Fort Gipson, OK;

and several other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and grandparents, Ivan James Trolinger and Edith Trolinger.

Active Pallbearers will be Les Hall, Jeramy Hall, Tony Oropeza, Jason Hubler, Rob Daugherty and Johnathon Ellis.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Arthur Hall, John Hamilton, Creed Ritter, Gary Sheppard, Chad Ford, Steve Hamilton, Kevin Hubler and Shane Sigman.

Viewing will be 2 – 8 PM Tuesday at Agent Millsap Event Center in Gore, OK where the family will greet 6 – 8 PM.