Fred Sullivan Hatton, Jr.

Fred Sullivan Hatton, Jr., 85, of Beaumont, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Regional One Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Three weeks after losing his bride of sixty-four years, they were reunited.

Born October 21, 1939, in Memphis, to Fred Sullivan Hatton and Alvie Franklin Hornbuckle, Fred was the youngest child and often referred to as his sister’s “Little Buddy”. The nickname stuck and his Memphis family called him Buddy the rest of his life.

At the age of 21, Fred married his wife, Evelyn Hatton, on January 27, 1961. They had four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom were born in Memphis.

As a young man, Fred attended Fairview Junior High and Tech High School. He worked for Chip Barwick Chevrolet. He then went to work for W.R. Grace Chemical Company. In 1975, he was ready for a change and answered a newspaper ad for a job in Beaumont, Texas, with Swift Chemical Company. He was hired and relocated to Beaumont, living in a small, silver travel trailer for three months while he looked for housing for his family. In November of 1975, they sold their Memphis home, and the family moved to Beaumont on Thanksgiving weekend. Fred and Evelyn lived the rest of their lives in Beaumont.

After tinkering with Volkswagens since the early 70s, Fred started his own business, Hatton’s German Imports, in 1980, specializing in VW and Audis, in addition to working at the plant. When Swift closed, he focused on his car business full time, selling cars, parts, and service. In 1982, he went to work for Mobil LDPE Chemical Company. He continued his car business on the side.

Fred retired from Mobil in 1998, but he didn’t slow down or stop working as he was never one to stay idle for long. He kept himself busy with his car business and owned and maintained several rent houses in the area.

Throughout his life, Fred enjoyed many hobbies. In his youth, he was a talented artist and enjoyed drawing and painting. He liked to hunt, especially deer and quail. He raised and trained his own bird dogs for hunting and also loved and cared for many pets, mostly dogs, throughout his life. He loved working on cars and, as a true “Mr. Fix It,” Fred could repair darn near anything. Later in life, he was introduced to golf by his oldest son and became a fanatic. He played as often as he could with friends and family and anyone else willing to let him tag along!

With three sons, Fred’s family was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Fred was a Cubmaster, Committee Chairman, and Committee Member. He and Evelyn were awarded Scouting Family of the Year, and Fred received the District Award of Merit in Beaumont, the highest honor a District in Scouting can give.

Fred was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many roles over the years.  Most recently, he and his wife were part time missionaries for four years, working with the Young Single Adults, which he found very rewarding.

He took his family’s well-being very seriously and was a hard worker and an excellent provider.  His wife and children never wanted for the necessities of life.  He instilled in his children the value of a dollar, a strong work ethic, and the desire and ability to be independent and self-sufficient.  Fred supported his wife’s many endeavors as well as his children’s through the years.

Fred is survived by his children, Barry Sullivan Hatton; Leslie “Les” Jay Hatton and his wife, Jaylyn; Fred Douglas “Doug” Hatton and his wife, Nicole; and Julia “Julie” Elizabeth Hatton; grandchildren, Lauren Hatton and her husband, Nick Rich; Jason Talley and his wife, Allison, Zach Young; Nick Young; Jason Hatton and his wife, Katelyn; Anne Marie Coopman and her husband, Mike; Carlee Knighton and her husband, Eric; and Jaydon Hatton; great-grandchildren, Mikayleigh Pearson, Kendra Hatton, Adelyn Talley, Cora Talley, and Natalie Talley.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Bill Hatton, Edna Tullos, and an oldest sister lost at birth; and his wife, Evelyn Hatton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Donation Processing Center, P.O. Box 5041, Boone, Iowa 50950-0041 or online.

An intimate family graveside service and interment was held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Singleton Springs Cemetery, Sarah, Mississippi. A Celebration of Life for Mr. Hatton will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7785 Weaver Drive, Beaumont.