Hila Janean Bemis was born in Los Angeles, California on July 31, 1932 to John Bemis and Cecilia (Grass) Bemis. The first of three children born to the couple and their only daughter, Hila was doted on by her parents throughout her childhood.
A lover of horses and an amateur pianist, Hila spent much of her homeschooled youth pushing the boundaries of her environment.
She, being fiercely independent, was tasked with driving to pick up her mother from work at only 13 years old.
Once enrolled in public high school, Hila thrived and was involved in nearly every academic activity available to her.
Hila loved horses and once pranked her mother by bringing her horse into the kitchen. As a teenager, She met her husband Jack who was an excellent match for her sense of humor. One of Hila’s first interactions with Jack was while riding her horse down the road. Jack approached behind her in his truck and blew his air horn to startle the horse and get the attention of the pretty girl riding it. His plan worked, and Jack and Hila would marry in 1950 when Hila was only 18 years old.
Two years later Hila gave birth to her first of three children, all of whom she maintained wonderful relationships with throughout her life.
As an adult, Hila attended what was then San Diego State College, and majored in Social Work. Her first job was as a secretary at Wackenhut Security. She eventually accepted a position with the City of San Diego Social Services Department, where she predominantly helped single parents and their children. Hila and Jack centered their lives around serving others, and her work in her community continued until her retirement in 1990.
Over the years Hila welcomed two son-in-laws, a daughter-in-law and many grand children and great grandchildren. Every new addition to her family felt their own unique form of support and love from Hila, who always knew how to make someone feel special.
Throughout her life, Hila enjoyed a great many things. Cars, food, gardening, food, reading, food, collecting antiques, and have we mentioned food? Hila was a foodie to the core and showed her love by feeding the people in her circle. “Have you eaten?” Was the first question she would ask when you entered her home. To feed someone was another way for her to serve them and ensure they knew they were loved. Her love of learning seeped into her passion for cuisine, and she would often go into various markets to learn about the foods of different cultures and would find a stranger to ask how to prepare their favorite dishes. And what better to pair a good meal with than a beer? Hila was always up for a cold one. Though she enjoyed a variety of activities, Hila’s most enduring passion was people. She was intentional with every interaction she had. Every new person she met presented an opportunity to learn about their life, their family, their careers. She wanted to know what language their name was derived from, and where they were born. Hila loved people like very few seem to these days, and she relished the opportunity to soak in the unique life stories of each person she met. Stories were a sign of a life well lived, and Hila wanted to honor those lives by learning from their experiences.
She especially loved learning about their tattoos. You see, she was a tattoo enthusiast who got her first at 70 years old and went on to collect three more, including taking her granddaughter for a tattoo at 18.
In 2010, Hila said goodbye to the love of her life Jack just shy of their 60th anniversary.
Hila adopted her beloved chihuahua-terrier mix, Sweetie, in 2011 following the death of her husband. She was always a supporter of animal rescues.
Hila moved to Oregon after Jack’s death as well. She buckled his urn into the car and said “now Jack, no comments about my driving” and off she went, onto her next adventure at 79 years old. That fierce independence from her youth never really wavered, it seems.
Hila enjoyed 10 years in Eugene, Oregon near her son, and his family before moving to Waxahachie, Texas in February 2022 to be near her two daughters and their families. Hila enjoyed the tiny-home life with Sweetie until she passed away on October 17, 2022 following a fall and a battle with COVID around her 90th birthday. Her final moments were spent in her bed, holding the hands of her loved ones, while listening to Willie Nelson. She wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Hila was preceded in death by her parents John and Cecilia Bemis, her brother Jon, and her husband Jack.
Hila was survived by her brother Randy Bemis, her children Karen (and Bill) Martin, Stephen (and Marjorie) Page and Sheryl (and Gordon) Smith, her grandchildren Christine Martin, Chris and Scott Page, David (and Kayla) Erdner, Anne (and Simon) Boddie, Gordon (and Carmen) Smith, and Jackie (and Patrick) Spivey. Hila was blessed with 14 great-grandchildren: Addison, Carson, and Samantha, Wyatt and Phoebe, Nathan and Andrew, Joshua, Jaxon, Adrian, and Oliver, Brendan, Hayden, and Lili.
Hila left an indelible mark on this world through her kindness and love. We would like to believe that she is enjoying seeing her great love, Jack, once again, and that she would have a few words of wisdom for anyone willing to listen:Adopt a dog; They’ll love you and be loyal to you, even when you’re not at your best.
Plant flowers; They’ll remind you that the world continues to grow and become more beautiful everyday.
And finally, have you eaten? Because there’s this recipe she really thinks you’d like….
We love you so much, Grammie. Give Grandpa the biggest hug from us all.