Hillary Louise Case

July 17, 1966 - December 11, 2006 

(To jump down to pictures of the celebration of Hillary's life, click here.)

(For more pictures of Hillary, below, click here.)

Updated

09/10/09

On Saturday January 20, 2006,  sister Barbara, cousin Nancy and cousin Diane flew into San Francisco from Portland.  I joined them for the flight on to Reno.  Once we got our car, we drove a short distance to Sparks where we picked up brother Jim.  He was driving his truck down from Portland to Los Angeles and was able to make a stop in the Reno area.

The celebration of Hillary's life was held at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, just west of the University of Nevada - Reno.  We drove there from Sparks and called cousin Clinton who was a minute away from where we were parked.  Clinton's brother Marvin and his wife Anne arrived a few minutes later.

The event was held in the "Ranch House" ... which was also the location of Hillary and David's wedding, June 23, 2001.

Her husband David arrived holding their son Davey who was sound asleep.    Her sister Annette came and went to work preparing for the large crowd.

The facility has a number of room where we set up tables and chairs.  There was an "appetizer room", an area for entree items and the bar and another for desserts.  Many friends came early and helped finish preparing the spaces. 

For the first several hours, people mingled, visited, reminisced and relived old times.  Food was in abundance ... we filled our plates and sat at a table to eat.  We choose a room in the back which overlooked the beautiful garden where Hillary and David were married.  Today it was a cold, crisp, clear winter setting with some snow on the ground.

David's parents Theodore (Ted) and Beatrice (Bea) flew in from Virginia.  His brothers Stu (Oakland) and Ted (New Jersey) worked hard making sure all thirsts were quenched.

At 3:30, we gathered in another room, set up with rows of chairs and a sound system.  Friends and relatives of Hillary took turns speaking about her.  We quickly learned what an accomplished woman Hillary was.  She earned her doctorate in psychology, worked in the Counseling Center at the University of Nevada, Reno.  Friends Melanie Crawford, Niloo Afari and Stacy Kendall described her as positive, loyal and supportive.  Annette told us about her wonderful older sister.  David was the last as he remembered his wife ... their meeting (at the Silver Peak), courtship and marriage.  The family was devastated at her diagnosis and took to heart at her courage as she continued to live her life to the fullest.

Hillary and David's 15 month son Davey is a handsome, shy guy who liked the attention of his grandfathers, Clinton and Ted.

Before we headed off to the airport, Clinton and Marie hosted Marvin, Anne and the five of us at dinner at the "old" Silver Peak Restaurant in downtown Reno.  It was too short, but we enjoyed the company and great food.

A bag of "Hot Chocolate by Hillary" was given to everyone when he or she left.  "Heat 3 cups of milk to almost boiling.  Stir in contents until fully mixed.  Top with Marshmallow (included), if desired.  Enjoy!  With Love, David, Davey, Clint, Marie, Annette."

Hillary Case passed away on December 11, 2006, after a courageous fight against cancer. Her family was by her side. She is survived by her husband David Ake, and fifteen-month old son David Abraham Case Ake, as well as by her sister Annette Case; parents Clinton Meridith and Marie Case; uncle Marvin Franklyn Case and family; grandmother Anna Lou Case; parents-in-law, Theodore and Beatrice Ake; sister-in-law Diane Saul and family and brothers-in-law Theodore and Stuart Ake, and their families.

Hillary, born July 17, 1966, was a lifelong resident of Reno. She attended Reno High and the University of Nevada, Reno, completing her PhD in psychology at UNR in 2000. She cherished her career, serving students at the Counseling Center on the UNR campus. An avid violinist, she participated in orchestras sponsored by the Washoe County School System. Subsequently she played with the UNR Symphony, the Reno Pops Orchestra, the Carson City Symphony, as well as the annual Ruby Mountain Symphony concerts in Elko. 

She loved cooking, gardening, traveling, photography, and to be surrounded by her friends and family. But these words cannot meaningfully convey all that she accomplished, how she loved life, or how those who met her loved her. Hillary will be dearly missed. No formal memorial services will be held. Family and friends will gather in January to celebrate her life.

For the Love of Jazz

P. O. Box 125

Reno, NV  89504

[Hillary and Dave] were married on June 23, 2001.  I think she kept her last name because she liked it and didn't necessarily think she should have to take David's name (she is very independent you know) and because all her professional work was under "Case".  --- Annette

(Cousins met on many holidays at my Grandmother Nellie's farm between the towns of Molalla and Canby, Oregon.  My brother Richard describes for Davey the details of a special annual celebration.  Pictures of one such day are further below.)

The Fourth of July was an important holiday in the traditions of the Eyman family at the farm in Rural Dell.  In the years your Grandpa Clinton was a boy, his grandmother Nell lived in the big, white frame farmhouse. Every Fourth of July morning, her brother Perry who resided with her would discharge a stick of dynamite in the orchard to get the neighbors up.

The next event of the day was the Buckaroo Parade which began at 10:00 AM and wound through the nearby town of Molalla where your Great Grandma Anna Lou went to high school when she was a girl.  Among the DeMolay, Grange, and Odd Fellows floats, and horse riders were fire engines, a high school band or two and an assortment of log and lumber trucks.

Returning from the parade, someone would have the responsibility of stopping at Blackman’s corners to pick up the 100 pound block of ice for making ice cream.  As different family members began to gather, usually the men would break up the ice and fill the big White Rock freezers with ice, rock salt and the cans of creamy custard. Usually there was chocolate and vanilla. The youngsters were expected to take a few turns on the crank.

Occasionally, the Daniels, Schuebel and Eyman cousins would have collected and cleaned pop bottles to make Root Beer.  They would buy the Hires extract which was added to sugar, water and yeast to make about 5 gallons of beverage.  The bottles would be filled, capped and stored in a cool place.  In about 2 weeks the soda pop would develop a fizz and be ready to drink. Some ice was appropriated for a big tin wash tub to put the Root Beer and/or other soda pop.

Around one o’clock in the afternoon, aunts and uncles, cousins and assorted family and friends would gather to fill their plates in the dinning room and settle on the big screened dining porch, the broad front steps and elsewhere to enjoy potato salad, fried chicken and other favorites.  Following dinner, and after relaxing and visiting among the adults, anxious children would urge the opening of the freezers where the ice cream was curing, cones would be filled and enjoyed by all.  There would be a selection of pies for the adults to enjoy a la mode. Your great, great aunt Lucia Schuebel could be counted on for an especially tasty one.

During the afternoon, a variety of games and sports would occupy the younger set. There might be badminton, croquet, volleyball or hide and seek, depending on the organizers and the participants.

Late in the afternoon or early evening one might enjoy a supper of leftovers and another go at ice cream.  As it grew darker, cousins would begin to bring out their fireworks in preparation for detonation. Your Great, Great Grandfather, Albert, was a great lover of fireworks and had built a launcher for rockets. Grandpa Clinton’s cousin Paul Eyman carried on the tradition, prevailing upon anyone traveling to parts where fireworks were sold to buy and bring back. Usually there were rockets, roman candles and strings of fire crackers. The younger cousins would play with “snakes”, spinners, whistlers and sparklers. If you played with sparklers, you were advised to put the spent wires into the tin bucket so as not to get them caught in the lawn mower’s blades.

The pictures here are from the Fourth of July celebration of 1977 which your mom attended along with your aunt Annette, great uncle Marvin and great aunt Anne, your mom’s cousins, grandparents and great grandma Anna Lou.  Looking at the photograph you will see a portion of the family gathered on your Great, Great, Grandma Nellie’s wide front porch.

(Click on a thumbnail to see a larger picture.)

Caption 1:

Bottom Row 1 L-R Keith Schuebel, Hillary Case, Brenda Kindall, Anne Marie Schuebel, Heidi Case, Robin Case, Travis Case

Row 2:  Julie Kindall, Kevin Kindall, Marcus Daniels, Unknown ?, Philip Daniels Scott Schuebel, Annette Case

Row 3:  Richard Daniels, Beth Daniels (7 mo), Judy (Bartolomeo) Daniels, James Daniels, Sheila (Peterson) Daniels, Brenda Kindall (?)

Row 4:  Grandma Nellie (Yoder) Eyman, Anne (Kaufman) Case

Row 5:  Agnes McConnell (Elaine’s cousin), Anne Whitaker (Roberta’s work friend), Tom Daniels, Donald Daniels, Lucia (Eyman) Schuebel, Clinton Case, Marie Case, Anna Lou (Eyman) Case, Steven Eyman, Roberta (Eyman) Daniels, Joel Daniels, Marvin Case, Robert Schuebel, Mary Lee (Bradford) Schuebel, Diane (Schuebel) Kindall, Barbara Daniels

Caption 2:

Bottom Row 1 L-R Hillary Case, Brenda Kindall, Anne Marie Schuebel, Heidi Case, Robin Case, Travis Case

Row 2:  Julie Kindall, Kevin Kindall, Marcus Daniels, Westby son, Scott Schuebel, Philip Daniels, Annette Case, Westby daughter

Row 3:  Richard Daniels, Judy (Bartolomeo) Daniels, Beth Daniels (7 mo), James Daniels, Sheila (Peterson) Daniels, Sheril Kindall

Row 4:  Lucia (Eyman) Schuebel, Grandma Nellie (Yoder) Eyman, Anne (Kaufman) Case

Annette sent all of the pictures of Hillary.  Many were shown at Hillary's celebration in a "slide show".  Many are thumbnails (click to enlarge).  Some are full size already.

Davey was born Sept. 2, 2005  .