Vadace L. Hatfield

Vadace L. Hatfield went to be with the Lord on April 19, 2015. Her daughters Nancy Willis and Sandra Clarke were at her side.

Vadace was born in Snow, Oklahoma, Sept. 8, 1926, to Edward Lafayette and Lela Mae Lakin. She met her future husband, George Merell Hatfield, and they were married the day after she graduated from Antlers High School in Antlers, Oklahoma on May 22, 1946. They lived in Washington, Arkansas and later moved west to Coburg, Oregon, along with her parents and several other families. They resided there until they moved to Alaska in June of 1970.

Vadace worked at Country Squire Motel and later at Gheen Irrigation Works in Eugene, Oregon, after her children were older. Once in Alaska, she worked at Westward Hotel and Barrett Inn where she later retired in 1989. The Hatfields moved to Wasilla and lived there until her death.

Vadace was a devout Christian and longtime member of Fairview Loop Baptist Church. She loved her family and will be greatly missed by them. She enjoyed going to the FLBC ladies’ Bible study and Circle of Friends meetings until her health declined.

Vadace loved reading and was a great cook. No one could make fried chicken like her. Her pies and cakes (especially coconut cakes) were the most loved. She had a great personality and was loved by everyone she met. Vadace dearly loved her great grandchildren, Braeden and Blake, and even at 88 she would get on the floor and play with them. She was looking forward to the birth of her third great grandson in a few months.

Surviving are her daughters, Nancy Willis (Charlie) of Wasilla and Sandra Clarke of Great Falls, Montana; grandchildren, Garrett Willis (Amber) of Wasilla, Callie Willis (Tyler Dawson) of Kennewick, Washington, Derek Hatfield (Nicole Poe) of Wasilla, and Aleksandra Clarke of Montana; great-grandsons, Braeden Ross and Blake Cooper Willis of Wasilla; her future great-grandson Jhett Cooper Dawson of Kennewick, Washington; sister-in-law, Bernette Lakin of Eugene, Oregon; and many nieces and nephews from Oregon to Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her husband George Merell Hatfield; loving son Rick Hatfield; parents Ed and Lela Lakin; brothers Edward and Wayne Lakin; and sisters Lorene Tucker and Hazel Greer.

A celebration of Vadace’s life is at 4 p.m., Saturday, April 25 at Fairview Loop Baptist Church, 3118 W. Fairview Loop in Wasilla. Donations can be made in Vadace’s name to Fairview Loop Baptist Church or Hospice of Wasilla.

Arrangements entrusted by Valley Funeral Home of Wasilla.