Vaun Buxton Hillman

Born on June 15, 1938 in Driggs, Idaho, Vaun Buxton Hillman was the youngest of seven children born to Gheen Hillman and Eva Buxton. (Birth Certificate) He was raised on a farm at the mouth of Darby Canyon, just a few miles south of Driggs, Idaho. (Woolstenhulme 2013)

Vaun met Velma Avonne (Avon) at a party at Vaun’s house when he was a junior in high school and Avon was a freshman. They quickly became friends and started dating. They loved to dance and would go to the Gold and Green Balls held all over Teton Valley. In high school Vaun played on the football and basketball teams for Teton High School. He was voted best dressed his junior year and was Senior Class President. After graduation he attended Utah State University. (Woolstenhulme 2013) Two years later, after Avon graduated, they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 27, 1958. (Marriage Certificate)

Vaun loved to tease and play jokes on others, just like his father. One of his favorite tricks was to make divinity candy out of soap. The Hillmans were all great candy makers and Vaun made wonderful divinity, which means he got a lot of people with that trick. He also loved to sing (although he could not carry a tune) and he had a little song or saying for every situation. (Van Orden)

Vaun was well liked by everyone because he was such a good friend to all who knew him. He was a very caring man and would do anything to help anyone in need. He especially loved young people and loved his job teaching high school math. He loved his children very much and they knew it without question. Vaun also had a very tender heart and it did not take much to bring tears to his eyes. (Van Orden)

Vaun and Avon loved everything about the outdoors. They loved to ski, hike, and camp together as a family. One of their favorite pastimes was Dutch oven cooking. Together, they ran a Dutch oven catering business during the summers called Old West Catering. The business flourished and they spent many summer weekends catering for large events. (Van Orden) It was while cleaning up after one such job that Vaun had a massive heart attack and died on June 13, 1992. (Death Certificate)

Works Cited

Birth Certificate for Vaun Buxton Hillman, 15 June 1938, File No. 268700, State of Idaho Department of Public Health. Copy in possession of author.

Death Certificate for Vaun Buxton Hillman, 13 June 1992, File No. 3535, Idaho State Department of Health. Copy in possession of author.

Marriage Certificate, Vaun Buxton Hillman to Velma Avonne Woolstenhulme, 27 October 1924, Boise, Idaho. Department of Public Health. Copy in possession of author.

Van Orden, Mandee, knowledge, [Blackfoot, Idaho].

Woolstenhulme, Velma Avonne, interview by Mandee Hillman VanOrden. (March 12, 2013).