Wesley Robert Hatton

Wess' earthly stay of 82 years came to an end when he joined his heavenly family as his wife of over half a century held his loving hand and he assured her he would be waiting when her time came.  He was born in Missoula, Montana on Feb. 11, 1941 to Raymond Robert Hatton and Ressie Neal (Toni to many family members nicknamed for Toni home perms) Kilcrease Hatton.  His Grandpa and Grandma Kilcrease played major rolls in his early childhood.  His Grandpa was Oklahoma Cherokee and Grandma was of Irish heritage from Galveston Island, Texas.  Grandpa Kilcrease was a foreman for the railroads, laying track cross country.  Grandma Kilcrease was their chief cook and bottle washer in the galley railroad car.

His Dad's family was also from Oklahoma and Grandpa Hatton built portable sawmills mounted on trucks and sent several of his sons in all directions in search of timber as Oklahoma became more and more uninhabitable.

Wess always said he learned his fractions from sockets and wrenches as he was his Dad's "Gofor" in his mechanics shop.  In later years his Dad helped him in Wess' shop.

Being an avid adventurer and always inquisitive, his interests ranged from the basis of all religions, psychology and geology to working with Norweigan ship builders in New England, becoming a shipwright who later built his own boat and sailed the Alaskan Passage single handed.  Earlier in life he had worked for Hinckley Boats in Maine, and had the opportunity to crew for the Rockefellers and Kennedys.

He travelled to South America, experiencing active volcanos and earth changing quakes in search of answers to our origins exploring ruins, pyramids and meeting indigenous people.

Wess and his wife, Eileen's paths crossed in Corpus Christi, Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Celia in 1970.  They married in 1972 and began their 1/2 century adventures.  In 1989 they experienced the devastating San Francisco's Loma Prieta earthquake while living aboard their 1960 Chris Craft he renovated.  He worked with his cousin repairing and replacing HVAC units from turn of the century to new buildings as they avoided trolley cars' scheduled passings by driving around the block.

Wess was talented in so many fields.  He rebuilt a sawmill to manufacture log house kits, creating a color coded method to offer homeowners the means to set up a cardboard model of their particular home design and to build their own log homes from the pre-cut logs delived in the kit.

Custom creations were always exciting to him.  He designed and built a dressy custom barn for dear friends with dutch doors, dormers and a bell tower to allow their family heirloom bell to be mounted as icing on the cake.  He was   known for his integrity, work ethic and attention to detail, giving 110% to excellence.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen Hall Hatton; his brother, LeRoy Hatton; his sons, Chris (Marilou) Hatton, Shawn Hatton, Wesley Hatton, Jr (Amy); grandsons, Jason Laire, Marcus Benavides, Shae (Karen), Tyler and Josh Hatton; granddaughters, Mariah Trujillo, Allysa Benavides, Rebecca Reed, Lilly Hatton;  great granddaughters, Addie, Peyton, Phenix; great grandson Hunter.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughters, Susan Hatton Trujillo, Weslene Hatton, grandson Charles Hatton; granddaughter Monica; great granddaughters Sapphire Raine and Lena Faye.

Sincere, heartfelt appreciation goes out to the excellent care and wholehearted empathy, expertise and constant, continuous support we received from St. Pats' medical teams.  A particular Thank You to Greg, Dean, Sarah, Kitty, Terri and Nick for the immeasurable difference you each made to support us through this difficult stage from earthly struggles toward pain-free peace that he now enjoys.