J. Laurie Hatfield

Jeanne Laurie Simmons-Hatfield, 51, of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away Monday, January 26, 2015. She was born October 10, 1963. At the age of three, she and her two older siblings were adopted by Jerry and Pearl Simmons of Hulbert, Oklahoma. Laurie grew up on a dairy farm and would sit on a stool out front and hand out cookies and Double Bubble bubblegum to all the children who would visit. She was very independent and struck it out on her own when she was only fifteen years old. She had her own place to live, went to school, and carhopped at Sonic Drive In in Tahlequah. Laurie attended Marcoma Bible Academy then Tahlequah High School. Tahlequah High School is where she met Pennie Bragg, her life-long friend. On February 10th, 1984 she met her soon to be husband, Billy Hatfield, by way of chasing him down. This is the date the couple celebrated their anniversary, contrary to the date they were married. Laurie gave birth to a son, Rex Allen on November 6th 1984, and a daughter, Dawn Michelle on April 2nd, 1987. Billy, Laurie and family moved into their home about a year after their youngest child was born. Laurie was a homemaker while her children were small, but when they started school she went to work as a part time substitute teacher at Hilldale Public Schools in Muskogee. She enjoyed her job, especially working within the special education department. In 2004 she started to work full time as a paraprofessional and bus moniter for Hilldale. The family were members of First Community Church of Oktaha for many years, with Billy playing bass and Laurie singing on the worship team. Billy and Laurie loved to play gospel music together and have been a part of a few bands including Joy in the Journey and the gospel quartet, The Messengers. In her free time Laurie loved to spend time with her family, including the occasional fishing trip. She was proud of her children and could be heard yelling at the top of her lungs at any sporting event or special occasion throughout their school years. Miss Laurie touched many lives and will be missed by all who had the opportunity to meet her. She was preceded in death by her sister, Jaqueline Lynn Simmons. Laurie is survived by her husband, Billy Rex Hatfield of Muskogee, Oklahoma; son, Rex Allen Hatfield of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; daughter, Dawn Michelle Hatfield of Muskogee, Oklahoma; parents, Jerry Lee and Pearl (Butler) Simmons of Hulbert, Oklahoma; brothers, Jamie Lee Simmons of Dutch Harbor, Alaska (wife Vina), and Jerald Lonnie Simmons of South Dakota; sisters, Jennifer Lane Cross of Fort Scott, Kansas (Husband Chad), Jerri Lorraine Welch of Tahlequah, Oklahoma (husband Jarrod); brothers-in-law Gary Hatfield of Muskogee, Oklahoma (wife Judy), Lynn Hatfield of Wagoner, Oklahoma; along with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends. A memorial service celebrating Laurie’s life will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Southeast Baptist Church with Pastor Ron Lindsey officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Booner, Rudy Leongurrero, Stephen Brown, Carl Taylor, Darwin Tackett, Don Cash, and Wendell Davis.

J. Laurie Hatfield

October 10, 1963 - January 26, 2015