Laurie Diane Hatton

Laurie Diane Hatton of Denver, Colorado, moved on to her next grand adventure, leaving the world to her children and grandchildren on April 13, 2025. She was an amazing, caring person, and the people whose lives she influenced will never know the full extent of her impact.

Laurie is survived by her daughter Jennifer Diane Rosen of Nederland, Colorado, her son Christopher Norman Hatton of Parker, Colorado; granddaughter Nicholle Marie Walter of Des Moine, Iowa; and grandsons Nikolas Norman Hatton of Kersey, Colorado and Itay Zimmon of Los Angeles, California; niece Lisa Holtz of Lafayette and nephew Paul Holtz of Denver, Colorado. Laurie is preceded in her journey by her daughters, Elizabeth Majorie Hatton and Stephanie Paula Hatton; her parents, Marjorie Diane Holtz and Wesley (Wes) G. Holtz; and grandparents Roy F. and Gertrude Drake of Lakewood, Colorado.

Laurie was born on a beautiful California day at the Hollywood Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on August 16, 1937. She was the first child of the then-to-be internally regarded geotechnical engineer, Wes, and the stately family matriarch, Marge. The family, tied to Wes’s career with the Bureau of Reclamation, moved a few years after her birth with stops including Alta, Oklahoma, where Wes was the lead engineer for the Alta dam; Yuma, Arizona; and finally Lakewood, Colorado, where they made their final permanent residence.

Laurie’s early years were spent in Alta, where her mother gave birth to her brother Dave; they were a match made in heaven. Laurie adored her little brother and was the self-appointed keeper of her brother in his early years.

Laurie adored her dogs. Her first love, a faithful and unwavering companion, was a German shepherd named Poochie. The two were inseparable. Poochie would follow Laurie around the neighborhood, faithfully sitting out in front of the house of the current play date. Her parents could always find Laurie by looking down the street for Poochie, knowing that this Guardian Angel provided a watchful eye over the young and blossoming little girl. Other lifelong friends included Millie, Mandy, Sophie, and, of course, Sir Walter Beagle of Brigham (Wally).

Laurie, the bright and beautiful spirit, grew up in interesting times and had many interesting gifts. She was born left-handed dominant and was known early on for beautiful penmanship. However, in that day and time, she was forced to write right-handed because that was the “correct” hand to write with. She wanted to be an engineer, but her father discouraged her, saying that women could not be engineers. Her granddaughter later fulfilled that role as an agricultural engineer for John Deere.

She was also a gifted piano player. She performed such masterpieces as Chopin’s Fantasy-Impromptu and Debussy's Claire de Lune at what must have been a stunning concert at the age of 13. She regrettably quit shortly after and made a point to instill a theme of never quitting in her daughters. She carried her love of classical music throughout the rest of her life and was a sustaining member of the Denver Symphony Orchestra. She also had a passion for opera and ballet, frequently attending events with both of her daughters.

Laurie attended Lakewood Elementary, Lakewood Middle School, and Lakewood High School. She was a bright and exemplary student. Lakewood High School was also where she met her future husband, Gerald N. Hatton. She attended the University of Colorado, obtaining a degree in Education. At CU, she was an active Alpha Phi and forged many of her life-long relationships under the roof of this prestigious cornerstone. Laurie was a favorite among her Alpha Phi sorority sisters, and the tall, slight but stately collegiate enjoyed living in the sorority house through much of her college tenure. The ladies enjoyed playing cards, and she learned and became a highly proficient bridge player, which turned out to be a lifelong endeavor and enjoyment for Laurie.

Laurie and her former husband were married at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in 1959. Gerry, who joined ROTC in college, received his commission and served as a First Lieutenant at the Missouri Ozarks stronghold of Fort Leonard Wood near Saint Robert, Missouri. While on base, they gave birth to their first daughter, Elizabeth Marjorie Hatton. Laurie worked as a teacher focusing on special needs children in the area. She was dearly loved by her students. Her teaching position launched a career of serving and caring for the needs of others. Laurie went on to earn a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Denver to further her giving endeavors.

Laurie and her former husband moved from Fort Leonard Wood back to Colorado and then onto Salt Lake City, Utah, where Gerry took a position as a computer programmer for IBM. They began building a house in Salt Lake City and catastrophically lost their first daughter after she contracted the second only recorded case that year of Haemophilus influenzae in 1964. Reeling from the loss, they left Salt Lake City to be with family and reestablished themselves in the familiar territory of Lakewood, Colorado, which would be their home for the rest of their effective lives. Laurie and Gerry had three more children, including Christopher Norman, Jennifer Diane, and the late Stephanie Paula. She dearly loved her children.

Laurie and Gerry, along with Laurie’s parents, Wesley and Marge, purchased a mountain home in the early 1970s in Silverthorne, Colorado. Perched on Ptarmigan Mountain, the home soon became an oasis for family skiing adventures, and later, with the purchase of a sailboat, many sailing adventures on Dillon Reservoir also ensued. Laurie loved sailing with her kids and enjoyed the teamwork, family time, and many adventures on the lake. She dearly loved her family.

Laurie spent much of her years in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s as a homemaker. She returned to the workforce in the early 1980s as a social worker for the Jefferson County Department of Social Services. This was a tough and demanding job. Her caseload included the 26 worst child abuse cases in the county at that time, and her impact on many lives will never be fully understood by those whom she helped. She had a beautiful heart and was a giving person of her time and efforts to protect young children.

She was quite successful as a social worker and went back to college to obtain her master’s in social work from the University of Denver in the mid-1990s. She and her daughter, Jennifer, and family friend, Reito Rodriguez, all attended DU’s School of Social Work in the same general timeframe, a pursuit that she truly enjoyed and mastered.

As an accomplished social worker, Laurie worked in residential treatment at Savio House, went on to expand and refine her skills geriatric social worker for Catholic Charities, and later with Kaiser, specializing in memory-compromised individuals. She was based out of Saint Anthony’s Hospital and helped develop their psychiatric unit. She was a strong voice and advocated for the elderly. She was a highly respected social worker in the memory care portion of St. Anthony’s Hospital and later worked on the placement of individuals throughout the Kaiser network as an expert in long-term care. She was highly respected in her profession, and to this day, individuals that she guided, trained, and worked alongside still actively work in the Denver area.

Laurie was an amazing and accomplished human being. She always had a smile on her face and wanted the best for her family. She adored her children and later her grandchildren and was ultimately blessed with the opportunity to spend the last three years with her great-grandchildren. Her parents and in-laws built St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and that is her home. Her memorial will include a life committed to serving people, making the world just a little bit better. Her infectious laugh always filled the room and will be forever missed.