WAYLAND: Russell M. “Rusty” Hills, Jr., 77, of Wayland, died comfortably at his residence under the care and comfort of his family on Friday, July 16, 2021 following a rare terminal illness of several months.
Rusty was born on March 12, 1944 at Waltham Hospital. He was the son of the late Russell M. Hills, Sr and Virginia (Biggi) Hills. He lived on Bacon Street in Waltham thru his elementary school years before moving to Weston.
Rusty married Alexandra M. Taylor on November 7, 1970 and they moved to their home in Wayland. They had two children, Keith Russell and Dana Michelle, as well as several Golden Retrievers, horses and a few cats and bunnies. The whole family was very active with ventures in skiing all over New England, out West and in Europe. He also enjoyed boating, bicycling, kayaking, hunting, hiking the New England 4000 footers, horses and skeet shooting.
Nickerson and Hills, Inc., a paint store and contracting company, was started by Rusty’s dad Russell in 1946 and Rusty came on board around 1966 to help. He quickly began running the crew and contracting jobs for the next 50 years while continuing to help run the store as well.
Then there was the purchase of a second home in Aiken, SC in 2016 to get away from the snow and cold New England winters. His son Keith stepped up to run the company back in Waltham during the winters with help from his father Rusty who would be back working for the 6 month summer season. After a break from sport shooting up North, Rusty got back into his guns in Aiken and added trap, five stand, sporting clays and woods to his skeet becoming an overall shooting guy.
Russell leaves behind his beloved wife of 51 years, Alexandra “Randy” (Taylor) Hills of Wayland; his son Keith Russell Hills and his wife Stephanie Anne Hills and their sons Jake and Sam; his daughter Dana Michelle Hills Riley and her husband James Edmund Riley and son James and daughter Taylor; his three sisters, Jody Hill of Waltham, Linda Brown and her husband Stanley Brown of Castle Rock, CO and Ginger Lopez and her husband John Lopez of Rockledge, FL as well as many nieces and nephews whom he adored. He will be missed by so many who felt close bonds with Rusty, an outstanding, personable, outgoing, lovable fun guy.
Memorial Visitations will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (off Rte. 30), Wayland.
A memorial service will be held at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 53 Cochituate Road (Rte. 27), Wayland on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 11:00 o’clock. The Memorial Service will be live streamed at www.TCCWayland.org.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Creutzfeldt – Jakob Foundation for Research www.cjdfoundation.org/donate. Please indicate the tribute is in loving memory of Russell M. Hills, Jr.