AUGUSTA - Gerald 'Gerry' E. Hill, 88, of Western Avenue died Wednesday, Feb. 18 2004, at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Togus. He was born in Baileyville on Aug. 25, 1915, the eldest son of Walter D. Hill and Sarah (McLaughlin) Hill. Gerry graduated from Calais Academy, class of 1932, and went to work as a clerk in the St. Croix Hotel. In 1938, he became city clerk of Calais. He began working in the local office of the Maine Department of Labor in Calais in 1942 and had advanced to field supervisor of the unemployment division of the Employment Security Commission in Augusta at the time of his retirement in 1974. In 1981, Gerry began his second 'career' as a volunteer at the Togus veterans' hospital, where he was honored in 2003 for more than 10,000 hours of service. Gerry was a decorated veteran of World War II. He served in the Army and received the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Germany, and the Bronze Star. Active in several organizations, he was a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Augusta, a past grand royal patron of the Order of the Amaranthe, past noble grand of the Oddfellows Lodge, an ambassador to the Togus veterans' hospital for Anah Shrine, and served in several veteran and civic organizations. On Oct. 21, 1939, Gerry married Evelyn W. Ross, whom he 'imported' (his words) from Milltown, New Brunswick. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2003. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Nina Keene, of Bridgeton; a son, W. Daniel Hill and wife, MaryLou, of North Anson; two daughters, Gerry Hill of Las Vegas and Patricia Blennerhasset and husband, John, of New Port Richey, Fla.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to visit 6-8 p.m. Monday at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, with a 7 p.m. Masonic service. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. Stephen Tolander officiating. Burial will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Gerry's memory be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Maine, P.O. Box 1134-630, Portland 04104-1134