Cary Duane Hill

On May 14, 2023, at 4:37 pm, Cary Duane Hill passed into the arms of his Heavenly Father who he loved and served throughout his life. He was 85 years young. Cary was born February 27, 1938, in Butler Springs, AL and was the fifth child of Ollie Hill and Annie Lucille Stinson, with one brother and three sisters. Cary joined the Marine Corps in 1956. In July 1958 he was in the amphibious landing of Marines at Beirut, Lebanon, code-names Operation Blue Bat, to quell a civil war in the region. It was America’s first combat mission in the Middle East between American force and political negotiations, the civil war ended. After his military service he attended the University of Florida Forestry School and served in the Coast Guard in Jacksonville, FL and obtained his Captain License. He began his career in 1961 with Gainesville Regional Utilities. He continued his education and attended Sante Fe College and retired with 30 years of service as Manager of Substations and Meter Department. During his tenure he Served as President of the Southeastern Meterman’s Association. Cary was a lifetime member of the Gator Detachment 990 Marine Corps League with a tour as Commandant 2008-2009. As a member of the Marine Corps League, he was recognized and awarded the “Vision Award” for his Leadership, selected by the League as “Marine of the Year” and recognized for his service in the Marine Corps League Honor Guard. He was a member of the Marine Corps League Devil Dog Pound and was selected as the “Devil Dog of the Year”. He was a member of Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2811, the American Legion Post 16 in Gainesville, FL. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Island Grove, Florida. On April 28, 1979, he married Jamie Darlene Caldwell, and in 2023 they celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. Cary was a certified YMCA and Padi Scuba Dive Instructor and with his wife Jamie, together they owned and operated a dive shop in Gainesville for 13 years. As an instructor he taught many people in Florida. Very involved in the community, Cary coached football through the Gainesville Boys Club. He was also Chairperson and Coordinator of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots and with his wife, they provided Christmas toys for families for Alachua County and surrounding areas. Cary’s most impactful service has been in serving as Commander and volunteer of the non-profit program chartered in Gainesville, Fl in 2002, the Milton Lewis Young Marines . He served from 2005 to present. As Unit Commander and under his Leadership, Jamie as Executive Officer and with the Unit Staff, the Milton Lewis Young Marine Unit, has touched the lives of countless youth, boys and girls aged 8 to 18. Cary also served as Commander of the Florida Bravo Battalion.Under Cary’s Leadership the Milton Lewis Young Marine Unit was “Unit of the Year in Florida multiple times, and in 2009 was recognized and selected as the “National Unit of the Year”. That same year, a Milton Lewis Young Marine, Kayley Hill, was the 2009 National Young Marine of the Year. Under Cary’s command, they have traveled to many encampments and leadership schools, helping to develop young folks into responsible adults for any career they may choose in life. While the group is not a recruiting tool, a good number of the Young Marines gravitate to military service after developing a sense of discipline, confidence, and patriotism. In 2020, 2021 and 2022 Milton Lewis was selected for the First Place Award and recognized by the US Department of Justice National Drug Enforcement Administration for community drug education and awareness and promoting a healthy lifestyle for youth. Through Cary’s leadership he has been a positive influence on many young lives. Recently Cary was recognized by the National Young Marine Headquarter with the highest award an individual can receive for his dedicated service and, Leadership for the last 20 years in the Young Marine Program. Cary enjoyed fishing, hunting and scuba diving, and boating and spear fishing. His love of diving gave him the opportunity to dive in many locations throughout the Caribbean. Every year Cary and his wife would vacation in the Florida Keys for lobster season. Through his diving he made lifelong friendships and had many adventures. His most recent dive trip was in 2019. His greatest joy in life with wife Jamie was his children Kim and Mike, spending time with family and their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Cary was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie and Lucille Stinson Hill, one brother and three sisters. Cary is survived and will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 44 years, Jamie Darlene Caldwell, and is children, Kimberly Michelle Fagan (Duke Fagan) of Dunnellon, FL and son Michael Cary Hill of Palm Harbor, FL, 5 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren along with nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Haven Hospice and Marion County Hospice caregivers for their amazing concern, care and service given in the hour of need. Funeral Services for Cary Duane Hill will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 1:00pm at WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd Street Newberry, FL. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service beginning at Noon. Burial will follow at Forest Meadows East Cemetery with Military Honors 3700 S.E. Hawthorne Rd, Gainesville, FL. 32641. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Cary Duane Hill’s memory to the: The Gainesville Milton Lewis Young Marines, 10405 SW 127 Terrace, Archer, FL 32618, or Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32609. or Hospice of Marion County 3231 SW 34th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474.

Cary Duane Hill

February 27, 1938 - May 14, 2023