Shelia R. Martin Hill

DES MOINES: Shelia R. Martin Hill, 51, of Des Moines, lost her battle with cancer on March 19, 2014, with several family members by her side at the Taylor House Hospice, Des Moines. Memorial services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City. The family will greet friends one hour before services at the funeral home. Shelia requested a party in celebration of her life that will be held following the funeral services at the VFW in Mason City, IA. Memorials may be directed to the Shelia R. Martin Hill Memorial Fund. Born May 30, 1962 in Charles City, IA, to the late Clayton and Doris Martin, Shelia graduated from Charles City High School in 1980 and went on to study accounting at NIACC and Buena Vista College. She became a mother for the first time when her son, Robert Hardiman, was born on July 3, 1987, and brought two more children into the world, a daughter, Kaitlin Hardiman, on June 8, 1988 and a son, Taylor Hill, on June 2, 1996. She wed David Hill Sr. on November 27, 1999. Shelia was a pillar of her beloved family, enthusiastically organizing family gatherings and devotedly chronicling her family's genealogy. She was a formidable advocate of her children, particularly her daughter Kaitlin who has special needs. As a long time tax preparer for H&R Block, she enjoyed mental challenges, problem solving, and helping others achieve their goals. Shelia is survived by her three children, Robert Hardiman of Lake City, IA, Kaitlin Hardiman of West Des Moines, IA, and Taylor Hill of West Des Moines, IA. She is also survived by her stepchildren, David Hill Jr. of West Des Moines, IA and Chrystena Hill of Alexandria, VA, her siblings, Susan Hyland of Charles City, IA, Linn Martin of Charles City, IA, and Stacy Corrigan of Cedar Falls, IA, and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins, many of whom she counted among her closest and most precious friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Doris Martin, and by a niece, Khristina Riles.