Harriet "Hatsie" Meloy

Hatsie was born in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on December 5, 1932, to Harry and Elizabeth Grizzard. Her father was an athlete for the West Point boxing team and a Cavalry officer in the Army. Her mother was a spirited debutante from Somerset, Kentucky. As an Army daughter, Hatsie traveled the world with her parents. She was proud to be an Army daughter and an Army wife.

Hatsie attended high school at Le Chatelard International School in Switzerland and later attended the University of Texas and Auburn University. She married a handsome Texas boy named Sandy, who managed to graduate by the skin of his teeth from West Point and rose up in the ranks to become the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. Making Hatsie one of the most beloved first ladies of the Division. Early in a marriage of 59 years, they were blessed with three children (Stan, Sharon, and Katie). The family moved too many times to count, and survived one combat tour in Korea, and two combat tours in Vietnam.

Following retirement, Hatsie and Sandy moved back to Texas and spent many happy years living in Austin and Georgetown and enjoying time at their treasured lake house in Kingsland - where they were renowned for hosting family and friend reunions and decorating their boat to the nines for the 4th of July boat parade contests. In Austin, she became an entrepreneur and began a successful business running “Community Connections,” serving as a liaison for local realtors welcoming new families to the community. She had a calling for making people feel welcome and appreciated. As a devout Christian, she was always involved in her local church and made a priority to let God lead the way and guide us all. In 2012 Hatsie and Sandy moved to the Army Residence Community (ARC) and began their golden years together. She became a widow in 2013. A few years later she was lucky enough to meet Punch Jamison and they developed a warm and loving bond that we still treasure, including the addition of his two daughters (Nancy and Judy) to our extended family.

Hatsie lost her son Stan to illness in July 2022. She is survived by her daughters Sharon and Katie (Bob), and Stan’s widow Annie. To her family, she was our loving matriarch. To her grandchildren (Elizabeth (Chris), Bobby, and Michael (Kristen)) she was their loving Mimi. Her great grandchildren (Jerome, Emma, Owen, and Henry) will hear stories of her for years to come. We will remember her as someone who loved well, overcame tough times, taught us all the lessons we know, and loved the Lord with all of her heart.

Hatsie’s family would like to thank all of her many good friends who made her life so full and happy. And a very heartfelt thank you goes out to all of the staff at the ARC who became her friends and showered her with such care and affection.

The date for her memorial service at the ARC Chapel is pending for some time in mid-September. She will be buried next to Sandy at Ft. Sam Houston. In lieu of flowers, donations in Hatsie’s honor may be made to ARC Protestant Chapel Fund. Please visit the Porter Loring Mortuary website to sign Hatsie’s guestbook and leave messages for her family.