Judith Ann (McGillis) Hills

Judith Ann Hills, age 79, of Petoskey lost her battle with colon cancer on April 2, 2025. She was surrounded by the love of her family, and as the matriarch of the Hills family, she will be sorely missed.

Judy was born April 3, 1945, in Harrisville, Michigan to James and Bertha (Predmore) McGillis and was raised on her parents’ dairy farm. The youngest of four children, she always said every child should have the experience of living as part of a farm family. Her work ethic was learned young. Starting at the age of four, she gathered eggs, helped fill the wood box, and weed the garden. By the time she was 8, she drove the tractor so her father and brother could load baled hay in the wagon. When her family moved to Oscoda, she was soon babysitting until she was old enough to get a job as a waitress where she worked until she graduated from high school and met the love of her life, Michael Hills.

Judy and Michael were married June 22, 1963, eventually having two boys, Michael and Scott.

While raising the boys, Judy worked in the accounting department of Montgomery Ward and eventually went to work at Hills & Associates. In 1979, she and her husband opened Calico Crafts which they ran for thirty-two years, closing in 2011. In 1994, she started her residential rental business, which is still going strong today. Judy’s approach to giving back to the community was to purchase distressed properties and rehab them to improve the neighborhood. She served on the board of the Jaycee Auxiliary as president and served twelve years on the Petoskey City Planning Commission. She was a founding member of the Emmet County Landlords Association, whose importance has grown over the years.

If you knew Judy, you knew she was intensely passionate about her residential rental business.

It was not uncommon to see her trimming bushes, mowing lawns, painting or pointing out things

needing attention to the wonderful handymen known as “the boys,” but also known as Bill, Fred, Doug or Dave. She was so appreciative of their excellent workmanship on her projects.

As proud as she was of her rental business, nothing could match the joy and satisfaction of seeing her family grow and make their mark on the world.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband Michael; parents James and Bertha McGillis; sister Mary and brother-in-law and Jack Straub; sister Barbra and brother-in-law Rex Walters; in-laws Dale and Mildred Hills; and nieces Kathy Straub and Tracie Hills.

Judy is survived by her brother Jim McGillis (Pat McGillis), brother-in-law Dave Hills (Janet Hills), son Michael Hills (Mary Jo Hills); son Scott Hills; grandson Jared Hills (Emily Hills); grandson Jeff Hills (Tori Thompson); granddaughter Jordyn Bilski (Steve Bilski); grandson Tyler Hills (Carley Hills). Great-grandchildren William Hills, Maggie Hills, Lynnae Hills, James Bilski, Theo Hills and the many nieces and nephews she adored.

A memorial service will be officiated by Rev. Dave Behling at 11:00 AM at Stone Funeral Home of Petoskey, Michigan on Saturday April 26, 2025. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for a donation to the Salvation Army or McLaren Home Care & Hospice.

Services are in the care of Stone Funeral Home.