Obituary for Talmadge HIATT
VERNON TALMADGE HIATT, 79, son of David Lafayette & Ethel Mene Puckett Hiatt, died on Sunday, 27 July 2003 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston Salem, NC. He was born 5 Mar 1924 in Wake Forrest, NC, the second oldest of 11 children. {*Junior Lafayette HIatt b: 17 Aug 1922; Vernon Talmadge Hiatt; Rudger Puckett Hiatt b: 9 Jun 1925; Portia Puckett Hiatt b: 28 Sep 1926; Wilbur Delma Hiatt b: 6 Dec 1927; David Hyrum Hiatt b: 22 Mar 1929; Paul Nephi Hiatt b: 15 Oct 1930; William Seth Hiatt b: 15 Feb 1932; Ethel Mene Hiatt b: 7 Apr 1933; Anne Puckett Hiatt b: 10 Feb 1935; Ephraim Monroe HIatt b: 1 Dec 1937} He grew up in the Sheltontown community of Mount Airy, NC. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints [Mormon Church] all his life, he served in many positions there from branch president to counselor to the stake president, as a bishop [lay minister] and then as high councilman for 21 years. Talmadge graduated from Flat Rock High School as valedictorian in 1941. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah before enlisting in the US Army during WWII. Before leaving for his tour of duty, he married Norma Jean Williams of Orem, Utah. They were married on 3 Jan 1944 in Medford, Oregon and later solemnized their vows in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on 5 May 1944. Talmadge and Norma were married for nearly 60 years. He fought in the South Pacific Theater of the war, earning a Bronze Star for heroism beyond the call of duty during the battle of Okinawa. After the war, he returned with his wife to NC where he completed his education at UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with a A.B. in political science in 1949 and a law degree [L.L.B.] in 1951. He practiced law for 50 years in Surry County, as Hiatt & Hiatt, Attorney's at Law; first as partner to his father, David Lafayette Hiatt and later with his son, David Phillip Hiatt. He is survived by his wife, Norma Jean Willams Hiatt of Mount Airy, NC: three daughters & sons-in-law; James Thomas & TAMELA Jean Hiatt Midkiff of Winston Salem, NC, Dale Lavern & SHARRON Anne Hiatt Higbee of Twin Falls, Idaho, James & LAUREL Marie Hiatt Zywot of Jacksonville, FL: three sons & daughters-in-law, Kenneth [KENNY] Grant & Kathleen Stoddard Hiatt of Mount Airy, NC, Vernon CRAIG & Ann Hiatt of Salisbury, NC, and DAVID Phillip & Maria Hiatt of Mount Airy, NC. He leaves 25 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three sisters; Lynn Wayne & PORTIA Puckett Hiatt Hansen of Bountiful, UT; ETHEL Puckett Hiatt Atkins of Mount Airy, NC; and Stanley D. & ANN Puckett Hiatt Masden of West Bountiful, UT: seven brothers;JUNIOR Lafayette Hiatt [wife, Irene Julia Koontz is deceased], WILBUR Delma & Ara Jean Avery Hiatt, Paul [PETE] Nephi & Lillian Faye Adkins Hiatt, William [BILL] Seth & Rita Rachel Adkins Hiatt, and Ephraim [EFFIE] Monroe & Amy Catherine Morrison Hiatt all of Mount Airy, NC; RUDGER Puckett & Ruth Brinton Hiatt of Mesa, AZ, and David Hyrum [D.H.] & Marilyn Sturgis Hiatt of Bakersfield, CA: two maternal aunts; MARTHA Emillie Puckett Goins of Mount Airy, NC and ALICE Belle Puckett Pettit of Winston Salem, NC, many cousins, friends and associaltes. Talmadge was a faithful and loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a man of integrity and had strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He loved to play sports as a young man and in his later years was an enthusiastic spectator at many games with his children and grandchildren. He dearly loved spending time with his family. He had a beautiful smile, a firm warm handshake and a friendly ear willing to listen when needed. He will be surely missed. God bless and keep him in His loving hand and give peace to his family.
|