LEROY HATFIELD

PITTSBURG, Kan.- Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg for Leroy William Hatfield, 75, Pittsburg, who died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, at Landmark Hospital in Joplin. Burial will follow at Nashville Cemetery. Masks are required at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. To accommodate the needs of others, the service can be viewed via live stream at www.ollsmc.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar, Mo.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, at Main Street Bible Church across from Casey's General Store in Liberal, Mo.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to the Liberal, Mo. Recreation Dept. and Angels Among Us in Pittsburg, both in care of the funeral home. Contributions can also be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg, Kan.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; a son, Kevin Hatfield and wife Janette, Liberal, Mo.; two stepsons, Chris Roth amd wife Gayla, Ankeny, Iowa and Tim Roth, Cedar Lake, Ind.; an adopted daughter, April Harris, Wichita; a sister, Velma Moffett, Carthage, Mo.; nine grandchildren, Dalton Tinsley, Macenzie Masterson and husband Jase, Gabe Hatfield, Kale Hatfield, Blake Hatfield, Marquez Thomas, Sade Thomas, John Roth and Tommy Roth and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert Hatfield and a granddaughter, Madison Hatfield.

Mr. Hatfield was born April 11, 1945, at home in rural Barton County (Mo.), to Harley William and Clara Edna (McKee) Hatfield. He graduated from Liberal High School in the class of 1963, then served in the National Guard. On May 26, 1984 he married Carolyn Roth in Pittsburg.

He was a lifelong farmer, raising crops and livestock. He worked at Thorco Industries, as well at Isenmann Implement in Jasper, Mo. In the 1990’s, he began transporting foster children. In 2000, after seeing the need for a caring home, he and his wife began fostering children in their own home.

Mr. Hatfield coached girls, women’s, men’s and co-ed softball for many years. He led teams to multiple Kansas state championships and snagged national rankings. In the 1980’s, his team placed 13th in the nation in Tipton, Ga., in the ASA National Tournament. he was a great coach and in 1992 was deservingly inducted into the Softball Hall of Honors in Oklahoma City, Okla.

It’s no secret he had a heart for children. He brought joy to thousands for over 30 years as Santa Claus. He was Santa for both Meadowbrook and Northpark malls, sat for portraits at Bishop’s Studio in Pittsburg, visited various local churches and even made special deliveries to children on Christmas Eve.

He was an avid KC Chiefs fan. He looked forward to NFL season when his fellow Chiefs fanatic friend Traci would come over and watch the games with him. It was a common occurrence to hear them both cheering and sometimes yelling at the TV.

He was a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church and attended Our Lady of Lourdes with his wife, Carolyn.