Virginia Nell Hatcher

VIRGINIA N. HATCHER, 79, of Fort Smith, died January 9, 2012 in Fort Smith. She was born December 12, 1932 in Dayton, AR to Floyd Ray and Elva Aude Varner Norried. She was a 1950 graduate of Mansfield High School when she was a Basketball Star Player and participated in many school functions. She was the widow of Col. Edward E. Hatcher, a homemaker, a former employee of City National Bank, member of the Fort Smith Optimist Club, and member of the Grand Avenue Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Choir.

She is survived by three daughters, Melanie Hatcher Hylok of Edina, MN, Marisu Hatcher Neel of Fort Smith, and Holly Hatcher Manlove of Olathe, KS; two sisters, Florine Spain of Bakersfield, CA and Pat Willis of Cherokee, AL; four brothers, Floyd Norried, Jr. of Valley Springs, CA., Winfred Norried of Corning, CA., Jack Norried of Oklahoma City, OK., and Jerry Norried of Red Bluff, CA; and seven grandchildren Natalie Brooke Neel, Mari Katelyn Neel, Abbey Lauren Neel, Eric Edward Hylok, Evan James Hylok, Breck Aaron Hatcher, and Harrison Edward Manlove. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one grandchild, Jonathan Edward Neel.

Funeral service will be Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 11:00 am in the Grand Avenue Baptist Church with burial to follow in Roselawn Cemetery all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Earl J. Hylok, Jake Neel, Mark D. Manlove, Eric Edward Hylok, Evan James Hylok, Breck Aaron Hatcher, and Harrison Edward Manlove.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the 188th Fighter Wing Arkansas Air National Guard.

The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 5-7 PM.

Memorials may be made to the Samaritan Purse P.O. Box 3000 Boone, N.C. 28607-3000, The Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org, or Gideon International P.O. Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214-0800

To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com