Leah Ellen Hill
March 5, 1949 – October 25, 2025
Leah Ellen Hill, known to her family as “Tudi”—a Hawaiian nickname meaning “bundle of joy” bestowed by her nurse at birth—passed away peacefully on October 25, 2025, in Redding, California, at the age of 76. Born in Springfield, Missouri, she lived a life rich in kindness, community, and the quiet joys of country living.
Leah was the epitome of warmth and generosity, always placing family and friends first. An exceptional hostess and homemaker, she made nearly everything from scratch, tending her garden with care and preserving the season’s bounty through cooking, freezing, and canning. Summers meant blackberry-picking expeditions in jeans, flannel shirts, and rubber gloves, followed by the sweet aroma of cobbler and jam filling her kitchen. Frugal yet resourceful, she stretched every penny while never shirking her responsibilities. An avid reader, she preferred adventures between the pages of a book, basking in the sun with a good story rather than the thrills of an amusement park. Though she never pierced her ears, Leah wore jewelry daily, a small sparkle reflecting her vibrant spirit. She embraced travel and new experiences, finding wonder in the world beyond her doorstep.
A proud graduate of Enterprise High School and Chico State University with a degree in Home Economics, Leah shared her gifts as a substitute teacher at the French Gulch-Whiskeytown (FGW) School. She also served her tight-knit community at the French Gulch post office and library. Her voice soared in the choir at Pilgrim Congregational Church, and she poured her heart into local events, embodying the spirit of French Gulch.
Leah was married for 55 years to her beloved Clyde Hill. She is survived by her daughters, Alyson Hill and Renay Hill; granddaughter Tatiana Lizarraga; brother Chris Carter and sister-in-law Laura Carter; and a wide circle of cherished friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Clair and Ellis Carter of Redding.
As Audrey Hepburn once said, “The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.” Leah’s eyes radiated with that beauty—kind, generous, and full of love.
Leah (Tudi)’s legacy is one of simple joys, steadfast devotion, and a life well-lived in service to others. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered as a woman who overflowed with joy and brightened every room she entered.
