Gale L. Hatfield, 88, passed away Friday, January 12, 2018 at Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit, KS.
He was born May 2, 1929 in Webster, KS, the son of Ina J. and Florence (Hodson) Hatfield. On August 12, 1949 he married Lucille Wood in Concordia, KS, and shared over 62 years of marriage together until her passing on March 20, 2012. He and Lucille were blessed with three children, Glenda in December of 1950, Jim in September of 1952 and Terry Lynn in October of 1958.
At age fourteen Gale started hauling sand and working on road construction. He was also a mechanic for a Chevrolet dealership in Phillipsburg. In 1953 he started farming which was his dream career and loved working with his livestock as well as farming the ground. Along with farming he worked at Richardson Manufacturing in Cawker City from 1953 to 1969. Gale was a United States Army veteran serving from November of 1948 to September of 1949.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lucille, a son Terry Lynn, a brother Duane Hatfield and a sister Gloria Hatfield.
Gale is survived by a daughter Glenda Cyr and husband Larry of Miltonvale, KS; a son Jim Hatfield and wife Karen of Desoto, KS; seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, fourteen step-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Church of the Nazarene, Smith Center, with Pastor Brian Loreg officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 19, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center, and 11:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the Esbon Cemetery, Esbon, KS. Memorials may be given to the. Church of the Nazarene, Smith Center, KS and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.