Nelsene Brewer Hillhouse, 97, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at her home near Charleston, MO.

She was born June 24, 1921, in Batesville, Arkansas, to William Nels Brewer and Nellie Ann Barrett Brewer. Growing up in Batesville, AR she was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and discovered at an early age her ability to organize, teach, and her love of music. As a member of the 4H group in Batesville, she served in various office capacities in Independence County, AR and was named "Outstanding 4H Girl" at several state conventions. She attended Independence County, AR schools and was a graduate of Cave City (AR) High School where she was particularly active in the music department and membership in the girl's trio. In 1992, she was the fifth generation of the Independence Co., AR, Brewer family to be asked to organize the "Hickory Valley Singing" that her great grandfather and other community singers established in 1892. It was a tradition that lasted 102 years.

In 1941, she married Ray Baker Hillhouse, of Smithville AR, and they moved to southeast Missouri in 1942. He preceded her in death in 2008.

Upon arrival in Missouri, she joined the Wyatt Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, was Choir Director, and assisted with Vacation Bible School, under the leadership of Rev. A.B. Cooper. In 1969, she and her husband transferred their membership to the First Baptist Church in Charleston where she resumed her commitment to service. Through the years she taught Youth, Intermediate Girls, and Adult Women Sunday School Classes, was a choir member, a member and chairman of the Women's Missionary Union, served as Church Librarian, worked in Vacation Bible School and assisted as a counselor on youth retreats.

While raising six children in our rural community, she was active in the role of homemaking, vegetable and flower gardening, cooking and sewing. She designed her home for ease in entertaining and loved decorating it.

Her outstanding leadership in numerous service and community organizations proved to be a sustaining factor for success. As her children were attending Charleston schools, she worked to keep the P.T.A, in a functioning state; serving as President and Treasurer, developing and serving as Chairman of the P.T.A. Carnival Queen, a successful fund raiser for several years.

She served as a Girl Scout Leader and a Den Mother of Boy Scouts, was a charter member of the Mississippi County Historical Society; and volunteered time to the Heart Fund, Cancer Fund and the American Red Cross.

When our county hosted a full week of celebrations in honor of its Sesquicentennial, she accepted Chairmanship of all the Women's Activities – the list of committees too numerous to mention.

Her love of music was held evident throughout her life. A member of the Katherine Boone Music Club, she held various offices. She was a great encourager for young musical talents promoting their opportunity for public performance in numerous Music Club settings. She served a number of years as an active member of the Delta Community Concert Association which provided opportunity for music enthusiasts to hear a variety of professional quality musical presentations at venues around Southeast Missouri.

In effort to expand the cultural interest of our community, she became very active in the Federated Music Club where she held many district and state offices in addition to serving as the local Vice President and President. It was during this time she instigated a very outstanding and continuing annual community affair called the "Fall Music Festival".

The central characteristic which remained vital to her personal interests was young people. This was demonstrated once again in her promoting an organization which gave young people the chance to be active in making their community a more desirable one. She assumed the leadership role, serving as moderator, to encourage students to study the problems of the community and through action and adult guidance work to improve them. This program was known as Youth for Community Betterment. Under her leadership, Charleston's YCB received recognition as the top organization in the state in 1971.

Interested in every facet of young peoples' lives, from their music abilities to their athletic abilities, she and her husband established an annual cash award for an outstanding track participant at Charleston High School.

The pinnacle of her devotion of service to her community was when she and her husband purchased 15 acres of land and donated it to the City to be developed into a recreational park. The federally approved park, known as "Benny Hillhouse Memorial Park" is the home baseball park of the Fighting Squirrels, the 2018 Baseball Champions, and many local Charleston teams representing ages 4 and up. Every year many young peoples' lives are enriched through participation in team sports played on the park's ball fields.

In 1971, she was honored as Charleston's Woman of the Year.

Surviving are five children, June Hillhouse of Memphis, TN, James (Pam) Hillhouse of Windsor, CO, John (Nancy) Hillhouse of Charleston, Jana Lee of Boca Raton, Florida, Lisa Hillhouse of Charleston; her brother, Leon (Mikki) Brewer of Humble, TX; eight grandchildren, Mike Hurley, Mark Hurley, Greg Gunn, Tory Gunn, Josh Hillhouse, Adam Hillhouse, Robert Lee, Kara Hillhouse (Josh) Luna; and eleven great grandchildren, Gabe Hillhouse, Clayton Ray Hillhouse, Wyatt Hillhouse, Madison Hurley, Kristopher Hurley, Lauren Gunn, Jack Gunn, Bryant Gunn, Barrett Gunn, Trent Davis, and Aniya Luna.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Benjamin Michael "Benny" Hillhouse, and one sister, Christine Brewer.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 27, 2018, at the First Baptist Church in Charleston. Rev. Mary McCord of Sikeston, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Benny Hillhouse Memorial Park, c/o Citizens Bank, PO Box 130, Charleston, MO 63834

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com

Pallbearers will be: Mike Hurley, Mark Hurley, Adam Hillhouse, Greg Gunn, Tory Gunn and Robert Lee.