Obituary Record

Rufus Edward Hill, 56-year-old captain of the commercial fishing vessel, the Mary Helen out of Bay St. Louis, died Thursday, July 5 at 11:30 a. m. on his boat following a heart attack. Captain Hill had been in ill health for several weeks and was under treatment for heart condition. The boat was at Free Mason Keyes in the Gulf waters when he was stricken.

The crew returned the boat to port and upon arrival, Captain Hill was pronounced dead.

Coroner Emile Piazza of Hancock County said an inquest jury verdict was death from natural causes aboard his boat. Sheriff Sylvan Ladner of Hancock County served as bailiff. Jurors were Sam Peterson, John Jacobs, W. J. Lafontaine and Ken Whitfield.

Captain Hill was born Feb. 1, 1900, in Harrison County. He served during World War II in the U. S. Navy and was attached to the Naval Yards in Washington for about 18 years. He had resided in Bay St. Louis for about 20 years, residing at 303 State St. He was the son of the late David Hill and Dolly Kimbell Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Viola Cospelich Hill; four sons, Warren E. Hill, Rufus Hill, Jr.; John Henry Hill, and Joseph Hill; one daughter, Margaret Ann, all of Bay St. Louis; six brothers, George H. Hill, Gulfport; Oscar H. Hill, Willie Hill, and Oliver Hill, Pascagoula; Louis Hill and Leonard Hill, Bay St. Louis; two sisters, Mrs. Emily Fountain, Pascagoula, and Mrs. Anthony Mioton, Bay St. Louis; and two grandchildren.

The funeral was held from the Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis Saturday morning at 9:30 o'clock with religious serices at 10 o'clock in the Cedar Point Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Lee, pastor, officiateing. Interment was in Cedar Rest Cemetery.

Source: unknown newspaper