Clark E. Hiatt

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 15, 1926, Clark joined a strong Mormon Family. Raised in Milton-Freewater, OR, Clark attended grade school and high school there and joined the Army Air Corp immediately after graduation. He was stationed in Florida in flight training at the end of World War Two.

Clark married his life-long sweetheart, Shirley Elaine Hart, in Florida and the couple returned to Milton-Freewater to begin a family. Dick and David were born there and the family moved to La Grande in the early fifties as Clark took a job with M. J. Goss motor company as a parts man.

Drawing on Clark's early work experience, the Hiatt's designed and built a home on Second and "F" avenue in La Grande. This house served them for over fifty years and they added a house in Yuma, AZ for the winters.

Clark and Shirley had played the violin together throughout school and continued to perform with the La Grande Symphony Orchestra for many years. They toured Europe with the symphony in 1962.

Clark began selling cars for Goss Motors in 1961 and kept that career until he retired. Service was a strong part of Clark's ethics and he was an active member of the Lions Club, The Masonic Lodge, and the Elks Lodge.

A life-long sportsman, Clark loved hunting and fishing. Clark and Shirley enjoyed boating and camping for many years, and traveled all over the west with a boat and camper pulled by a one-ton Chevrolet pick-up Clark had built specifically for the task.

Clark is proceeded in death by his wife, Shirley and a grandson, Russ Hiatt. He is survived by his two sons; Dick Hiatt of Aloha, Oregon, and David Hiatt of Enterprise and several grandchildren, Jeff Hiatt of Denver, Cody and Derek Hiatt of Seattle, and Molly Hiatt of Walla Walla.

Clark passed away February 29, 2008 in Yuma, AZ. He had suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Church on Gekeler Lane. Interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Contributions in Clark's memory may be made to the Elks Childrens Eye Clinic, P.O. Box 189, Salem, OR 97308.