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Willie Guy, W.G, " Hattie" Hatfield was born the oldest son of a family of six on October 12, 1913. He began his long life in a farmhouse in Whitesboro, Texas, to parents, Roy and Velma Hatfield. He grew up working the land with his dad, and remembered plowing the rich black Texas soil behind a mule at age six. He attended school until he was 17 but was needed on the farm and could not graduate. He left school to keep the family farm going and worked there until 1934, when he met and married a beautiful 17 year old farm girl from neighboring Tioga, Texas. He said that they met at a dance, and that she was the girl who "turned every- body's heads". It was love at first sight. W.G sold a cow, he said, to pay first month's rent, groceries, and to buy a ring for his new wife. W.G and Wilna Fern started out their marriage picking cotton, filling their 100lb. sacks for a few cents a day. Soon, children Billy George and Sue Janis came along. Hattie was an entrepreneur from day one--he provided for his family during this time--the Depression, by remodeling farmhouses and learning carpentry with his brother-in-law, Harvey Varley. He later said that "They never knew they were poor and that there was always food on the table". By the end of the Depression, in 1941, W.G, with his self taught carpentry skills, was hired by Robert E. McKee Company, Defense Contractor. McKee moved the family to Galveston, Texas. Mr. Hatfield's tremendous work ethic and penchant for "doing things right the first time" allowed him to become one of the youngest building superintendents in the company. He and his crew built over 350 military homes in Galveston in 1944. Next, Guy and his young family were sent to Los Alamos where he and his men were charged with building a 500 unit housing complex, labs, and offices for the Western Area A-Bomb project. He was even granted a Q-Clearance. At the completion of this huge project, W.G was chosen by the company to accept the American flag and the coveted "E" Award from the Federal Government. Between 1944 and 1960, Hattie supervised several large projects, including both the first and second phases of the Ideal Cement Plant here in Tijeras Canyon. By this time Mr. Hatfield was supervising over 300 men, and managing budgets up to $22,000,000. Also to his credit was being building superintendent in charge of remodeling the New Mexico State Capitol building both in the early 1950's and again in the 1960's. Other projects of note throughout his lengthy career included the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, Texas, construction of the Campus of Mt. St. Joseph's College in Cincinnati, Ohio, the construction of Hokona Hall on the UNM Campus, and the UTEP Student Library in EI Paso, Texas. He continued to work for McKee Company, as well as building two homes for his family, including the North Valley home where he and his wife lived until their deaths. He retired from the McKee Company at age 62, to pursue his lifelong passion for gardening and outdoor hobbies. His huge fruit and vegetable garden was admired every year by many people in the neighborhood, many of whom looked forward each summer to buying home grown produce which he sold from his driveway. In addition, Mr. Hatfield fished with homemade lures on several area lakes and in South Texas, catching fish "when no one else was" and then canning the day's catch immediately in his little trailer after fishing all day. He continued to work for 12 hours every single day from retirement until 2003, when illness slowed him down. W.G died at home early Sunday morning, February 20, 2005, after fighting a lengthy battle with vascular disease. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Wilna Fern Hatfield; sister, Louis King and two grandsons, Frank Lyle and Perry Guy Hatfield. He is survived by his loving daughter, Sue Barnum, who cared for he and his wife during their declining years, from 2003 to 2005; and his son Billy George Hatfield, of Albuquerque. Also remaining, a granddaughter, Tami Lee Krebbs, and four great grandchildren, Cannon, Avery, Madeleine, and Jackson, of Wilmington, NC, and many nieces and nephews. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. W.G. was cremated, as was his wish, and a family memorial will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Lovelace Sandia Hospice. Our family will always be grateful for their loving professional care. Grandpa, there is no end to things in the heart... . your life lessons remain priceless to us and we will never forget you. Your legacy remains for always and forever. Give a big hug and kiss to G.G. when you see her, we know you'll be able to repair her wings once you get there. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services 2919 4th St. NW, Albuquerque.
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