Renette (Hill) Rees was born December 29, 1882, in San Diego County, California, the daughter of Clayton E. and Laura Hill. She had one brother, Herbert, born in 1888. She came to Chino Valley, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, in 1883 when she was one year old for a visit with her relatives, the Storm family of Chino Valley.

According to Ellen Ginn, author of Cowchips and Calluses, Renette’s mother had an unusual experience when they traveled to Chino Valley.  The family stopped at Yuma, Arizona, "where an Indian lady handed her baby to Mrs. Hill, who took it in her arms as a friendly gesture. Whereupon the Indian lady immediately picked up little Renette and started into her tepee with her. The Indian lady evidently thought the trade permanent, and it took a lot of persuasion to convince her differently."

Renette attended school in San Diego. She returned to visit in Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, seventeen years later and was introduced to Carl B. "Tod" Rees. On December 29, 1902, Renette's birthday, she married Carl, the son of Hannah Shivers Postle and Samuel Rees, at the First Presbyterian Church in San Diego.

The Reeses lived on a ranch on Granite Creek in the Prescott area before moving to Chino Valley in 1921. They occupied the adobe home called Casa del Rio where Tod had been born.  His children were also born there: Laura Louise Boren Card (1906-1980), Mabel Lucille Shuman (1906- ), Carl Clayton (1908-1961), Nellie Mae Cotten (1911-1981), Herbert David (1913-1970), and Rosalie Renette Robinson (1915-1975).

Renette was a charter member of the Arizona State Cowbelles, a professional organization of Arizona women that played a vital role in the cattle industry.  She was also involved in the Chino Valley Community Church. The rose bush planted for her in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden was given to her in 1918 by Mrs. Fisher Bailey and was first planted on the ranch near Jerome Junction. It was moved to another ranch and, finally, to their Chino Valley home. Renette's son, Carl, brought the beautiful pink rose bush to the Sharlot Hall Museum Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden.

Tod died in November 8, 1945, and Renette died on March 17, 1951, in Chino Valley.  Both are buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Prescott, Arizona.

Renette's mother-in-law, Hannah Shivers Postle Rees, is also commemorated in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden.

Donor: Yavapai Cowbelles
Photo Located: PB-83, F-8, I-2
Updated: 6/6/2015, N. Freer