Joe Lovato

Joe Lovato was a great man and he lived his life with integrity, compassion and loyalty. He always faced a challenge with determination and never hesitated to do what was right, despite the difficulty.
Born in Durango, Colorado on August 28, 1934, Joe's father, Efren, died in an accident two months before he and his twin brother Joe (yes, twin Joe's) were born.
Even as a child, Joe was an entrepreneur. He sold newspapers and shined shoes to earn money. He opened an account at a clothing store, and bought his own clothes - while many kids would have used the money for candy.
At age sixteen, Joe and his siblings lost their mother, Elviria, to cancer. Joe's sisters, Tillie and Carmen, took care of Joe and his twin until the boys went to college.
While attending Fort Lewis College, Joe stayed with the Maynes family. He then attended the University of Utah where he stayed with sisters, Lucy and Kelly. Joe went on to the University of Washington, majoring in Accounting.
Joe's interest in building materials began when he worked for Boise Cascade, auditing lumber yards. His entrepreneurial spirit was awakened as he saw the potential earnings selling lumber. Joe went to work for Lumbermen's in Shelton. A few years later, he was promoted to manager of the third store in the Lumbermen's chain, newly constructed on Bainbridge Island. Under Joe's management the new store began turning profits years ahead of projections.
Joe was an active member of the many organizations and service clubs throughout his life. In 1984, this service led to an unexpected "discovery." While on his way to a Rotary Exchange meeting, he passed by a hardware store. He stopped in to introduce himself at which point the owner asked him if he would like to purchase the business. With only a few employees (which included his family,) Hadlock Building Supply was born. As the company grew, Joe brought in a partner, Morris James, whom he had worked with at Lumbermen's.
In 1995, an arsonist tried to burn down what Joe and Morris built. The building was gone, but not the spirit. While the store was burning, Joe sang a tune, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to." By the following morning, Joe and Morris had breakfast with the employees and began rebuilding. "We'll make it bigger and better!" they said.
In 2005, Joe was awarded Business Man of the Year and attended a banquet with the President of the United States. Joe had been to Washington, D.C. at other times to lobby Congress, but meeting the President was an unforgettable experience for him and his business partner, Morris.
In 2007, Hadlock Building Supply expanded its rental and built a new building. Joe believed success could only be attained if the business continued to grow.
Currently, Hadlock Building Supply is the second largest employer in Jefferson County, with 49 employees. Joe always saw the individual employees as families, and would refer to the company as having over 40 families employed.
Joe loved sports. He played baseball and basketball in high school and college. His favorite team was the University of Washington Huskies football team. Many fond memories were made as he took his grandchildren to games. At a time when a lot of grandparents would be enjoying an easy chair, Joe was outside playing catch and shooting hoops with his grandson, Rob.
He loved his church, St. Mary's Star of the Sea, and the recorded sermons by Father John that he listened to and treasured.
Joe believed in giving back to the community and was a long time supporter of a variety of community efforts. While working with Lumbermen's in Shelton, Joe was President the Mason County Recreation Area (MCRA) where he managed to organize donations and community efforts to construct a 30 acre multi-sports facility on land purchased for $1.00. Joe believed in supporting the schools and the food bank. Joe helped fund numerous contributions and shared much of his time to help the schools and food bank.
Joe Lovato was one of the few. One of the few that never backed down from a challenge. One of the few that never expected anything for what he willingly gave. One of the few that never failed to put his words into action. One of the few that never will be forgotten.
Joe is survived by his wife, Lillian, of Nordland; sons, Joey (Brenda) Lovato, of Ferndale; and Robert (Pam) Lovato, of Marysville; daughters, Elena (Bill Kraut) Lovato-Kraut, of Port Hadlock; daughter in law, Tracy Lovato, of Shelton; brothers, Joe Justiano (Carla) Lovato, of Astoria, Oregon; and Bernard (Pat) Maynes, Durango, Colorado; sisters, Lucy (George) Meifu, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Kay (James) Madrid, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Tillie (Manuel) Salazar, of Anaheim, California; and Carmen Valdez, Loveland, Colorado; and grandchildren, Scott Lovato, Robert J. Lovato, Nick Lovato, Jacklyn Koepp, David Kraut, William Kraut, and Lilly Lovato.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Sam Mayes, Jr.; son, Frank Lovato; and sister, Kelly Torres.
Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at St. Mary Star of the Sea, Port Townsend, WA., with reception to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Hadlock Building Supply/Just Ask Rental.
Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Chimacum Schools (FOCS), P.O. Box 192, Chimacum, WA. 98325.