Dr. Mack Moran Hill, Jr. of McKinney, Texas peacefully passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on November 13, 2017 at the age of 94. He was born on May 10, 1923 to Mac Moran Hill, Sr. and Leslie Louise (Bush) Hill in McKinney. He was delivered at the same hospital on South College Street where he returned after the war to practice pediatrics. His grandparents, Ben and Verda Dowell Hill and Leslie and Lula Franklin Bush came from pioneer families involved in farming and harvesting grain and Moran Sr. continued in the family business. Mack attended Central Ward, graduating from Boyd High School in 1940. After high school, Mack enrolled in pre-med at TCU and at the beginning of WWII, as a sophomore, he joined the Navy's accelerated V-12 program and entered the Baylor University School of Medicine in Houston in 1943 in an old un-air conditioned Sears and Roebuck warehouse, receiving his M.D. in 1946. An internship followed at St. Joseph's in Fort Worth, and then Mack entered the Navy at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, then on to Guam Memorial Hospital in the South Pacific, ten days before the Korean Conflict began. Mack was transferred to the Seventh Fleet aboard the USS Piedmont which guarded the Straits of Formosa and was involved in the invasion of Inchon. From there, he took residency at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. Mack's enlistment in the Navy was 12 years which included medical school and served 8 years as a commissioned officer, Lieutenant Commander (Medical Corp) United States Navy.
In California, he met the love of his life, Anne Mehrle Wilks, a striking and talented Missouri girl, and they were happily married on Treasure Island in San Francisco on January 21, 1952. Shortly thereafter, Mack was assigned to the Army Airborne Installation at Fort Campbell Kentucky and attended a pediatric clinic. Daughter Martha was born in 1954 and having enjoyed pediatrics, he decided to resign from the Navy and signed up for a residency at the Texas Children's Hospital in Dallas. While in Dallas, son Ben was born. They eventually moved back to McKinney and hung out his shingle as a Pediatrician. When no patients arrived, a best friend, George Webb, suggested he change the signage to Infants and Children, and immediately Mack had all the practice that he could handle. In those early years, he was on call not only for his practice but also for the Collin County Hospital emergency room, a week at a time, for what Dr. Sims said, "whatever came in the door". Mack loved his work and was devoted to his patients.
Mack’s foremost commitment to the community was his lifelong membership to the First Christian Church where he was an Elder, Deacon, as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustee's. He sang in the choir alongside Anne and taught Sunday School up to his last days. His faith remained a central pillar which gave him great joy and contentment throughout his life. Mack was also dedicated to his community and served in numerous capacities. He was a County Health Officer, McKinney School Board Member, McKinney School Board Trustee, on the boards of the American Red Cross of Collin County, Boys and Girls Clubs, Collin County Heritage Guild, Avenues Counseling Center, Pecan Grove Cemetery, Housing Standards Committee, McKinney Symphony Orchestra, McKinney Arts Committee, and as a Boy Scouts Commissioner. Mack was active in both the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and was the secretary/treasurer of the Collin Fannin Medical Society where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1993, the McKinney Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Citizens of the Year Award, and in 2007 he received the Quality of Life Award from the McKinney Development Corporation. Mack also enjoyed being involved with the theater and spent a great deal of time volunteering with the McKinney Summer Musicals. In 2016, the City of McKinney dedicated Dr. Mack Hill Park in his honor for his many years of dedicated service to the community.
Dr. Hill is survived by his daughter, Martha L. Davis of McKinney; son, Ben Hill and wife, Karen, of Katy; grandchildren, Abby Davis of Colleyville, Dr. Meryl Davis of Fairfield, Connecticut, Austin Davis of Ft Worth, Chris Hill and wife, Lisa, of San Antonio, Benji Hill of Katy; great-grandchildren, Mason Mack Hill, Reagan Elizabeth Hill, Cameron Bryce Hill, Tyler Aaron Hill and one on the way; brother-in-law, Charles Wilks of Keller; and numerous other loving relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Anne.
A memorial service with reception to follow will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 17, 2017 at the First Christian Church, 1800 W. Hunt St., McKinney, Texas. A private family graveside will be held at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 1800 W. Hunt St., McKinney, Texas 75069.