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Mary Irene Hatchitt, 84, died suddenly Tuesday night in Albuquerque. Born July 21, 1921 in Fort Dodge, IA, Mary was a 1939 graduate of Fort Dodge High School, and a 1942 graduate of St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital's nurses training. For the next 45 years she worked non-stop as a registered nurse, taking only a couple of weeks off four times to give birth. She began her nursing career as an office nurse and surgical assistant to Dr. McClellan in Des Moines. It was there she met the love of her life, William T. Hatchitt. She waited for him while he served in the Marines in World War II. They married in 1946. Over the next four years she gave birth to three sons, then seven years later to a daughter. While raising her family, Mary was supervisor of surgery at Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge. She often worked private duty cases and served as a caregiver to two of her uncles until their deaths. While in Fort Dodge, Bill and Mary had an active social life while raising their four children. They played bridge, bowled on various teams; square danced and attended countless sporting events supporting their sons' teams. Mary and her family moved to Albuquerque in 1963. A short time after the family arrived in New Mexico; Bill was stricken with heart disease that would plague him the rest of his life. She guarded his health, while managing to work full time, and manage a busy family life. Her nursing ability, vigilance and dedication to keeping Bill alive prolonged his life until 1992 despite all dire predictions to the contrary. Theirs was the kind of marriage people aspire to; inseparable best friends who enjoyed each other's company, entirely devoted to each other and their children and grandchildren. In Albuquerque, Mary served as an office nurse for many years at Surgical Associates for Dr. Karl Moedl, and Dr. Robert Castillo. The last few years before her retirement she was an office nurse for Dr. Thomas Hayes. Friends, neighbors, and relatives called and came to her house constantly over the years seeking her medical advice. What few people knew about Mary is that she was a gifted poet. A life-long Catholic, Mary instilled in her children a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ, and a strong work ethic. She was the strongest person you'd ever want to meet and was the rock that supported all of her loved ones in their darkest hours. Mary was seldom sick and never complained about her health. She was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat who loved to argue politics right up until her last day. She loved to play slot machines, and when she wasn't home it was a safe bet she was either at church, the casino, or Grandy's. After her husband died 14 years ago, Mary was determined to force herself to get out of the house everyday. With few exceptions, she ate breakfast at Grandy's every day, including the day she died. Mary was preceded in death by her mother and father, Arch and Irene Williams; her husband, William; her sons, James and Stephen. She is survived by her son, William A. and wife, Cynthia; daughter, Mary Ann; sisters, Arlene and Margaret Williams; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth; grandchildren, Joe, Kenny, Brian, Jennifer, Stephanie Hatchitt, Debbie Feuerherd, and Julie Santi; two great-grandchildren, Justin and Haley Feuerherd, who gave her immeasurable pleasure; nieces, Maggie Foxx, Josephine White, Irene Williams; and nephew, Arch Ramsden. Pallbearers will be Bob Foxx, William White, Will White, Thomas White, John Feuerherd, and Anthony Santi. There will be a viewing from 2:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2006, at Sunrise Funeral Options, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE. A Rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2006, at Sangre de Cristo Catholic Community, 8901 Candelaria NE. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Sunrise Funeral Options 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010
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