Jennilyn H. Hull
Jennilyn was lovingly welcomed to the family of Eldon and Ella Mae Hinckley on June 10, 1953, in Rigby, Idaho. Her older siblings, Elsyne, Kent, and Layne were excited about the new addition. Jennilyn also had an immediate attachment with her aunt, Elsie Riggs, of whom Jennilyn said, “I loved being with her, she made me feel welcome and so good about myself.” In September 1955, her younger brother Richard also joined the family, and they moved to Escanaba, Michigan, in October 1956. During the summer of 1959, the family again moved—this time to Rockford, Illinois—where Jennilyn attended first grade. She was old enough at this time to form close associations with some of the people in Rockford, and she always looked back at her time and friends she made in Rockford with love and appreciation.
Rockford was also where her lifelong struggles with health began. In 1964 she became very ill. She had terrible headaches, was nauseous much of the time, and didn’t realize it but had double vision. While trying to do her homework one day, Layne noticed her eyes were moving independently of each other. The result was a diagnosis of a brain tumor which the doctors said needed to be removed. Jennilyn did not understand that her life was in peril, but she did understand that her beautiful long hair would be shaved off, and that made her cry. Considering the state of medicine in those days and the delicacy of the operation, the successful outcome was a great blessing. However, the results of the tumor and the effects of the resulting surgery followed Jennilyn the rest of her life.
In 1966, the family moved to Des Plaines, Illinois. Jennilyn graduated from Maine West High School in 1971 and went to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, where she earned an Associate’s degree. She enjoyed attending Ricks because of the close association she had with teachers and other students, as well as her visits with Aunt Elsie on many weekends. Jennilyn then transferred to Brigham Young University and found it much more difficult because of the class size, difficulty of the classes, and loss of the more personal touch which she enjoyed at Ricks. After one year at BYU, while living at home in Des Plaines, she was hired by United Airlines in the Property Accounting Department. She did not enjoy the job, but she loved to travel and frequently took advantage of the perk that allowed her to fly inexpensively.
In 1977, Jennilyn accepted a call to serve a mission in Houston, Texas, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly after she arrived in Houston, health issues again raised their ugly head and cut this experience short. The important thing is that she wanted to serve the Lord and did everything she could to magnify her missionary calling. She was grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and always wished it hadn’t ended so soon.
Jennilyn graduated from BYU in April 1980 and accepted a position teaching third grade at Durrant Elementary in Price Utah. After one year, Durrant Elementary was closed, and she transferred to Castle Heights Elementary where she taught for nearly 25 years. Because she was so far away from family, she felt the teachers and staff at Castle Heights Elementary were her family. Except for just a few years teaching fourth and fifth grades, she always taught third grade and said it was her favorite grade to teach.
Jennilyn made many lasting friendships in Price—in the Church and with her fellow teachers and school administrators. Price is also where she met Dean Hull while she was working part-time at Walton’s Bookstore. She and Dean were married on October 11, 1985. Dean’s cat Ivan was very jealous of Jennilyn. He would sit with his back toward Jennilyn or sit between Dean and Jennilyn on the couch. Following their marriage, they moved for one year to Farmington, New Mexico, where she taught fifth grade. After moving back to Price, her previous Principal, Mr. Angotti, was happy to hire her back at Castle Heights Elementary, and she was thrilled to return.
In February 1989, Dean asked Jennilyn what one thing would make her happier than anything else in the world. Her reply was, “A baby.” Elsyne had called Dean that morning and told him that there was a real possibility of adopting a baby from Rockford. Thus began the process of adopting Janae who was born on June 12, 1989. Jennilyn describes that time as, “Magical days that seemed like they wouldn’t end.” Because of their love for children, Jennilyn and Dean were foster parents in 1995 and 1996, and they lovingly welcomed Sarah and Renee into their home during that time.
In December 2006, a second brain tumor was discovered that required another brain surgery and created additional health issues. In January 2008, a stroke again resulted in hospitalization and in the necessity for Jennilyn to retire from her teaching career.
Jennilyn, Dean and Janae enjoyed going to the zoo, visiting dinosaur museums, watching movies, and walking to the park. Jennilyn and Dean also loved concerts, movies, operas, and ballets. Jennilyn’s parents and Dean’s parents joined them on several occasions as they attended the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City. Jennilyn had several dogs over the years that she loved very much. Jennilyn also inherited a love for special cars from her dad. She had a cute yellow Capri during college and a classy red Dodge pickup while she was in Price. In Florida, her car ownership culminated in the purchase of a beautiful sporty 2016 Mustang which she kept in pristine condition. Dean said, “She was the little old lady in her Mustang going to church on Sunday morning.” Jennilyn excitedly told Elsyne about the recent experience she had giving the sister missionaries a ride in her Mustang, and proudly stated, “I got it up to 60 miles per hour!” The smile she must have had while driving her Mustang brings a smile to our faces.
Jennilyn and Dean moved to Florida several years ago. She continued to be active in church and found great joy in having the young sister missionaries visit in their home. Jennilyn looked forward to her visits to Utah and loved spending time with Janae, her niece Melissa, her cousin Becky, and her extended family. She enjoyed good health while living in Florida until just the last couple of months. Jennilyn passed away from natural causes in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 25, 2021.
Jennilyn is loved by all who knew her because she loved them first. Jennilyn is a tender soul. She came to earth that way, and her medical trials added layers of love and compassion. She was never judgmental but accepted everyone for who they are, children of our Father in Heaven. Her immediate and extended family, the children in her classes, fellow employees, neighbors, and friends all knew that she loved them and cared very much about them. Her reunion with Mom and Dad and Aunt Elsie and others will be especially sweet as they envelop her in their arms and share the very special love they have for her. Jennilyn fulfilled her purpose of coming to this earth—to be like her Savior, to follow Him, and to share His love with others—and she will love being in the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Savior.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, August 9, 2021, at the Highland 26th Ward Chapel, 9681 North 6900 West, Highland, Utah. Family and friends may call on Monday from 12:00 to 12:45 pm at the church prior to services. Interment will follow services at the Highland City Cemetery. For those wishing to attend services virtually, please use the following link: https://zoom.us/j/98141862648