Arlen Bill Hatch

In the early years, life was very hard but he and Vonda learned to be very tough and resilient children.  Much of his young lofef was spent at the horse track where Bill learned how to jockey with men much older than him.  After his parents divorce, his mother remarried Bud McCarrol, who became a man Bill admired, respected, learned much from, and loved dearly.  Their family settled in Dinosaur, CO.  At the age of 14, Bill decided that it was time to hit the road and he started cowboying at various cattle ranches in Utah, where he would spend months in the snowy mountains, alone, watching over the herd.  Bill always made it back home to his mama where card playing and fishing were something they both loved.  Bud would teach him the way aound an engine, where he loved of mechanicing took over.

At the age of 18, Bill decided he needed to spread his wings once again and joined the United States Navy.  He spent the next 3 years on the massive aircraft carrier, The USS Yorktown CVS-10, as a machinist.  He spent most of his days in the engine room of the ship, but said he would sneak onto the deck and watch in awe of the planes taking off and landing.

After an honorable discharge, in 1967, Bill enrolled in  Utah Technical College in Salt Lake City where he studied auto mechanics.  With a degree in hand, Bill ended up in the bustling small town of Kemmerer, where he found work as a gas bay attendant at Primo's Gas Station.  There he met Jeanne Horsburgh and they would marry in 1970.  To this marriage on May 6, 1973, a son, Lance Kincaid was born and four years later, April 11, 1977, a daughter, Crystal Jean was born.  They would later divorce.  Bill worked hard to provide for his family.  He also played just as hard.  He started a small band where he would play his guitar at the local bars and sing the classic and loved country hits.  He went to work at the local coal mine where he spent the next 38 years as a mechanic.  He was a proud member of the UMWA 1307 and served on the board in different capacities.

Bill would then meet the love of his life, Jolene Nelson.  They would be married December 28, 1987.  They married in a small ceremony in Arizona with their four children, Lance, Russell, Crystal, and Steven, present.  Bill and Jolene bought a home in Kemmerer where Jo would soon learn of all the hobbies Bill would begin.  Bill was a true craftsman and there was nothing he would not try and usually succeed at.  Bill and Jo spent many hours in his garage remodeling trucks and cars.  His most prized was the 1966 Ford Convertible Mustang that he painted cherry red.  He had a passion for woodworking and his many projects of his included: lodgepole pine beds, benches, cradles, shot glass displays, Christmas decor for the town triangle, puzzles for his great grandchildren, and his award winnning Intarsia art.  His projects were always lovingly gifted to his family and friends.

In 2005 Bill retired from the coal mine.  He thoroughly enjoyed retirement and would often be seen on Lake Viva Naughton fishing or driving around town hi his putt puttt with Jack, his dog, next to him.

During all these years, Bill and Jolene had thirteen grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren.  Bill was a big kid at heart and enjoyed razziling them all.  

In his later years, Bill spent a lot of days with his feet up in his recliner cheering on the Wyoming Cowboys and the Denver Broncos.  More than anything, he loved to sit at the kitchen table and tell stories of earlier years.

On December 21, 2024, Bill left his earthly home to join loved ones in Heaven.  He is survived by his loving wife, Jolene, his son Lance (Gala), his daughter Crystal (Clint) and two step sons, Russell (Ivy) and Steven (Dailyn) Nelson.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Lanaya, Autumn, Colton, Chris, Andrew, Bailey, Rilee, Steven, Shawn, Paizley, Preston, Jack, Fern and nine great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents and a brother in law, Jerry Madsen.

Memorial services to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the South Lincoln Training and Event Center in Kemmerer, WY.  Inurnment with full military honors will be held at the South Lincoln Cemetery following the memorial services, in the military pavilion. 

https://my.forever.link/register/ballfamilychapel/bill-hatch For those of you wanting to livestream the memorial services you need to register with this link.