Jay R. Hatch

For those of you who knew Jay R. Hatch (Jay Hawker), you would say that he was one of a kind. Sadly, Jay passed away on February 6, 2017 at the age of 75. Born January 10, 1942 to Cecil Joseph Hatch and Dilla Louise Rudd Hatch in Rexburg, Idaho, he was welcomed home by four older brothers and three older sisters. A short time later, he was given a baby sister to keep tabs on. As a boy, he was full of mischief and energy, always keeping his parents busy with the many adventures and tales that he could spin.

At an early age, he joined the navy proudly serving his country. When asked about his time at sea, he would tell us tales of swabbing the deck and all the many places he’d seen while at port and the many incredible people he’d met along the way. No one was ever a stranger to him and everywhere he went, he always seemed to have a friend. He could sit and talk for hours with someone, even if they’d just met.

The summer after he was discharged from the navy, he met the love of his life, Lorene Hellman, while visiting his sister, Ruth in Montana. For them, it was love at first sight. The two of them were married a short time later on December 26, 1961. Life took them in many different directions but their love was always strong for one another. Over the years, they were blessed with the birth of four daughters; JaLyn (Jay), Samantha (Sam), Charlette (Charlie) and Jolene (Jo).

Throughout his many years, he worked in many different fields but was happiest when he was running his own business. In his earlier years, he owned his own trucking company.  He missed his family greatly so after the birth of his 4th child, he sold all but one of his trucks and started a towing company. Soon this led into an excavating company.  He operated these businesses for several years.  Eventually, he decided it was time to try something different so he sold his business and went on to work for Barrick Gold Mines in Elko, Nevada. He was also a volunteer fireman and was always the first to come to someone’s aid when they needed it.   He had a love of classic cars and at any one time would have several in his yard that he was bringing back to life.  He was a man who could fix anything.

Jay and Lorene raised their family in Teton Valley. After 55 years of living in the Valley, he left his roots behind and relocated for a short time to Elko, Nevada. He left Nevada in 2005 and moved back to Idaho, making his home in Ashton. There he reconnected with old friends and made new ones and touched many more lives.  He lived out his final days with the love of his life, Lorene and his girls.

He has been reunited in heaven with his father, Joseph, his mother, Dilla, two of his brothers, Ray Hatch and Richard Hatch, two of his sisters, Ileen Flamm and Lois Kneedy and one great granddaughter, Jensen DeWall.

His legacy will live on through his family and friends and their memories, a spirit that will always flourish and will never be forgotten. He will forever be missed and loved by his family; Wife, Lorene and daughters and their families, JaLyn (Scott) DeWall, Pocatello, Idaho; Samantha (Shane) Damron, Inkom, Idaho; Charlette (Chris) VanHorn Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho; Jolene (Rayce) Angell, Idaho Falls, Idaho and twelve grandchildren; Joni, Adam, Travis, Brock, Justin, Dustin, Wes, Jordan, Wade, Zayne, Peytan and Parker and ten great grandchildren. He will greatly be missed by his two sisters Ruth Parker, Three Forks, Montana and Lucy Thomas, Dubois, Idaho and two brothers, Ben Hatch, Tetonia, Idaho and Tom (Karen) Hatch, Spring Creek, Nevada.

We would like to welcome you all to a celebration of life this summer to honor him and his memory. Date and time will be announced at a later date.