Gus Lewis Hatch

Gus LewisHatch 1924 ~ 2004  Gus Lewis Hatch, age 79, of Shalimar, Florida passed away January 5, 2004 along with son-in-law, John C. Harrison as a result of a car accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was born March 27, 1924 in Vernal, Utah to Bus and Eva Caldwell Hatch. He graduated from Uintah High School and attended the University of Utah. He served in World War II as a gunsmith with the U.S. Marine Corps. During his years in Utah he worked in the residential and commercial construction field. He played in dance bands to pay his way through college. He also worked for Kennecott Copper Corporation as deputy chief of security. In 1965 he accepted a job with Bunge Corporation and moved to Memphis, Tennessee to build grain elevators along the Mississippi River. He was then sent to Florida to supervise construction of large farm tracts and stayed on becoming the general manager of First American Farms, Florida Division until his retirement.He was a member in the Masonic Order and became a Shriner. He was an active member of Shalimar United Methodist Church and served in many capacities over the years. He will be remembered for his many talents in carpentry, gardening, art, music, fine woodworking, fishing, and gift for storytelling. His main interest, however, was his family and spending time with them. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Foy and Don; and sons, Tom and Greg. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Patricia Mannion Hatch; his daughter, Julie Hatch Harrison of Shalimar, FL; son, Tracy Hatch, and his wife, Brenda Buchan of Tallahassee, FL; daughter-in-law, Shelley C. Hatch of Vernal, UT; granddaughters, Tess Hatch, Jennie Harrison; grandsons, Robert Hatch, Joshua, and Jordan Harrison. He is also survived by brothers, Frank Hatch of Salt Lake City and Ted Hatch and sister-in-law Meg Harlow of Vernal, Utah. A celebration of the lives of Gus Hatch and John Harrison will be held Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 11 a.m. at the Shalimar United Methodist Church, 1 Old Ferry Road, Shalimar, Florida. There will be a reception afterward in the Family Life Center. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to The Calvary Chapel, P.O. Box 1730, Vernal, UT; St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 4830 West 77th Street, Suite 102, Edina, MN 55435; Hadji Shrine Children's Hospital, 800 W. 9 Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32534; Laurel Hill Athletic Department, c/o Laurel Hill School, 8074 Fourth Street, Laurel Hill, FL 32567. Please indicate on memorial "In memory of Gus L. Hatch" and/or John C. Harrison.