Jerri Louise Hill, a talented and devoted activist, attorney, musician, limericist, bridge organizer, and the heart of her family, died on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Porter Hospice, Centennial, Colorado, ending her courageous battle with lung cancer. Jerri was born in Philadelphia, PA, March 19, 1946, to Walton and Marie Hill. Both of her parents were educators and instilled strong commitments to education and service in Jerri, their third child and third daughter. She attended public schools in Upper Darby; graduated from Smith College, Bachelors in Spanish magna cum laude, a member of Phi Beta Kappa; earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Temple University in Philadelphia; and a J.D. degree from the SJ Quinney College of Law at The University of Utah. She married Charles Bucknam March 10, 1978, in Tucson, Arizona, and together they raised three children, in households that spanned the continent, including years in Tucson, Arizona; Danbury, Connecticut; Elko, Nevada: Sandy, Utah; and finally, Parker, Colorado.

Jerri Hill was a champion of women’s rights and a passionate advocate for the oppressed, an untiring advocate for the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals in her communities. She joined the Venceremos Brigade and harvested sugar cane in Cuba. She was an activist for equitable and just public schools, environmental justice and conservation, battered women, and reproductive rights, among many other causes. She was instrumental in establishing the Grandview Estates Rural Water Conservation District, where she served as a court appointed Director. An active member of the Douglas County Democrats, she ran for District Attorney, State Senate, State House of Representatives, and County Commissioner and was a dogged canvasser for progressive candidates as Precinct Committee Person in Grandview Estates and surrounding area.

Her commitment to public service extended to her vocational endeavors as well. She worked in public assistance and Job Corps in Tucson, Arizona, taught English as a Second Language to Puerto Ricans and Southeast Asian Refugees in Danbury, Connecticut, supported women experiencing domestic violence in Elko, Nevada, worked for low-income clients at Utah Legal Services in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, served legal service insured clients in Denver, she tirelessly served her clients using a sliding payment scale, often pro-bono, in a home private practice in Parker, CO.

Jerri was a great source of strength and joy to her family. She never passed up and opportunity to bring music into their home playing guitar and singing folks songs with gusto. An avid reader you could often find her up late at night with a murder mystery or the most recent edition of the Funny Times. She loved the Atlantic Ocean, Jerri and her family spent many summers at the Jersey Shore floating on the waves, building drip sand castles, and enjoying the board walk.

Her generous and giving spirit will continue to live within all those she has touched.

Jerri Hill is survived by her husband Charles; her children Alexis Marie Bucknam of Holliday, Utah, Marie Rose Hale of Parker and Daniel Barnabas Bucknam of Denver; and her grandsons Elijah and John Gabriel Hale of Glenwood Springs and siblings Cathleen Hurwitz and Walton Hill. She was predeceased by her parents and an older sister Donna Marie Hill of Rochester, New York.

A Celebration of Life for Jerri Hill will be held starting at 2 PM on Sunday, May 7^th at the Bucknam-Hill residence, 12460 North Third Street, Parker, Colorado, In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to one of the following organization: Prairie Unitarian Universalist Congregation, National Resource Defense Council, National Planned Parenthood, and NARAL.