William M. Hatten

Judge William M. Hatten, born August 26, 1913 in Houston, Texas to George Renard Hatten and Josephine Yeager Hatten, passed away June 16, 2011. He is preceded in death by his brother, George and sisters, Jesse and Clara. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Helen Hatten; children, Joyce and Ken Wiesman, Nancy and Bill White, Cynthia Hatten, Bill and Raney Hatten, Ricci and Susan Hatten.

Bill Hatten lived his last months of his life on Earth the way he lived his whole life: “holding court” to family and friends. We said goodbye as individuals at his bedside and in large gatherings of good natured roasting. When asked what he wanted in his obituary, he simply said, “Just say thank you to everyone”. “Everyone” includes the priests of St. Thomas High School who instilled in him goodness, discipline, and knowledge. He was forever grateful and for that reason requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the school so that other young boys have the same opportunity. Thank you to the ethnic First Ward neighborhood where he grew up and learned that a man is valued for his honest labor, and where he met the love of his life and wife of 74 years, Dorothy Helen Puls. Thank you to the United States Marine Corps for allowing him to serve and protect the country that he loved. Thank you to his friends in the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Knights of Columbus and the Sacred Heart Society, fellowships whose good works help so many and whose friendships were life-long. Thank you to All Saints Catholic Church, where for over 70 years his soul was fed with the word of God. Thank you to his brethren in the legal profession; his passion for the law and politics never waned. Thank you to the doctors, nurses, and care givers who in the latter years of his life fulfilled his wish to live and die with dignity. Thank you to his family whom he always stood by and loved wholeheartedly.

There are special friends who meant so much to Bill and you know in your heart who you are. The Hatten family certainly knows who you are. They are each and every one of you who touched our lives. The last words Dad spoke before he passed were, “I have been blessed”. We know the first words he heard from his final Judge in Heaven echoed this sentiment. .

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 20, 2011 at Heights Funeral Home from 4-8 pm with a rosary at 6 pm by the Sacred Heart Society and at 7 pm by All Saints Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St. on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 10:30 am with interment to follow at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas High School Memorial Gift Program, 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007.To watch the memorial slideshow and leave condolences, please go to www.heightsfuneralhome.com.