Errol Ray Hatfield

Errol was born on April 29, 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Charles Raymond Hatfield and Mera Lenora Smith. As a boy, the family moved to California where Errol attended high school and went on to the University of Southern California. His studies were interrupted by World War II, when he served in the navy aboard the USS LSM 388. After the war, he received his Bachelor of Science and a Masters degree in business. After many years in the aerospace industry, Errol found his passion in teaching at Texarkana Community College. For twenty years he mentored his students and enjoyed in their success. His other passion was his love of the Lord. Errol took great pride in singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and working at Second Time Around. He was the founding member of two Methodist churches, (one in Bridgewater, New Jersey and one in Scottsdale, Arizona) and had found a home in Gainesville at the First Methodist Church.

Errol had a unique way of keeping his family and friends together. He is preceded in death by his mother and father and his wife of 57 years, Verona Morriss Hatfield. He is survived by his son, Errol Ray Hatfield and his spouse Jaime Hatfield, their two daughters, Haley and Kayla, of Whitesboro, Texas, grandson Austin Mobley, his wife, Jatziri and their daughter Amelie of Houston, Texas; Errol's son Timothy Morriss Hatfield and spouse Ann Klein of New York City. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the First Methodist Church Gainesville, Texas Building Fund.

He would have been 96 on April 29th.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Texas with the Rev. Don Yeager officiating. No visitation is planned.