Ashley Lynn Hill, 43, of Highland, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2023 surrounded by family at KU Medical Center after a sudden illness.
Ashley was born February 3, 1980 in St. Joseph, the daughter of Leslie (Danbury) Kinkead and Sam Hill. Ashley spent her early years in St. Joseph attending Hall and Pershing Elementary and Robidoux Middle schools before moving to Highland in 1994. She graduated from Highland High School in 1998.
After suffering a spinal cord injury in a car accident her sophomore year, Ashley learned to walk again with assistance and achieved her goal of walking down the aisle with classmates at graduation to accept her diploma. Over the years, Ashley was an inspiration to everyone she met as she overcame numerous health challenges in the 28 years since her injury. During a year-long stay at the Highland Care Center in 2003 she was a ray of light to all the residents becoming close to many of her high school friends’ grandparents. Ashley was named a Paul Harris Fellow through the St. Joseph Rotary East in the mid-2010s. Ashley loved the Kansas City Chiefs, music, animals, astronomy, and had an affinity for those in need. Her favorite volunteer work was socializing foster cats and kittens. She is reunited with her best friend, Carrie, her beloved cat who was always by her side. Ashley was the best ‘Aunt Tildy’ to her nephews Lincoln, Knox and Barrett Yurth--the light in her life.
Her family would like to thank all of her therapists, nurses, doctors and caregivers, especially her mother, who never left her side.
She is survived by her parents, Leslie (Bill) Kinkead, Highland, and Sam Hill, Springfield; her younger brother Deven (Kristin) Yurth, Highland; her elder brothers Sam (Alecia) Hill, Surprise, Ariz. and Harold (Annetta) Hill, Springfield; sister Diane Bloznik; grandmother, Charlotte Shaw Danbury, St. Joseph; uncle Jim (Monica) Danbury, St. Joseph; beloved aunt and caregiver Lisa Danbury, Kansas City, Mo.; stepsisters Suzie (Mike) Smith, Angie (Rick) Eberly, Molly Wollenberg; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ashley was preceded in death by her stepfather, Jerry (Gloria) Yurth, grandfather, Jerry (Maxine Moore) Danbury, grandparents Clarence and Mabel (Cohn) Hill, aunt Sallye (Rollin deceased) (Hill) Marsh, and uncle Jerry Michael (Gwenda) Danbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Falci Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado or the Northland Animal Welfare Society in Kansas City, Missouri, sent to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 302 W. Main Street, Highland, Kansas 66035.
Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland after 10 a.m. Thursday where the family will meet from 5 until 8 p.m. for visitation
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2023, at Highland Cemetery.
Following graveside services, everyone invited to the Highland Community Center, 407 W Avenue, Highland, for food and to continue to celebrate Ashley’s life.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
