Sandra Lee “Sandy” Hatfield
Celebration of life: 2 p.m. Sunday, June 3, Buffalo United Methodist Church. A reception will be held after the service in the church’s Family Life Center.
Memorials may be made to the Buffalo United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.
Sandra Lee “Sandy” Hatfield was born July 9, 1947, in Biloxi, Miss., the daughter of Col. Hugh Ballard and Joy Marie Ballard. She died May 22, 2018, at Cox South Hospital, Springfield.
She was one of six children. Her father was in the service, so the family moved several times as she was growing up. The family lived in Germany, Texas, France and New Mexico, finally moving to Springfield when her father retired from the Air Force.
She graduated in 1965 from Roswell High School in Roswell, N.M. At one point, she, her father and her sister Cindy all attended Southwest Missouri State University at the same time. Sandy graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.
She did her student teaching in Buffalo under Freda Heady. Prior to beginning her teaching career in Mountain Grove, she toured 21 countries in Europe with the college chorale. One country she sang in was behind the Iron Curtain. She met Ian Thomson during the tour through Europe. She reconnected with him during a visit to Scotland the next year, and in 1971 they were united in marriage. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and they were assigned to Dunoon, Scotland, where she taught school. Later they lived in Rhode Island. To this union, one daughter, Catriona, was born.
After her divorce and while teaching at Mountain Grove again, she met Donald Hatfield at a divorce support singles group in Springfield.
On May 3, 1985, they were united in marriage. To this union, one son, Emery, was born.
She continued her teaching career, teaching music at Skyline and Hermitage schools. She then changed careers, working at Meek’s Lumber and then Discount Lumber.
She was known in the Buffalo community for her exceptional musical talent. She sang and played at numerous weddings and sang at many funerals throughout the years. Most recently she brought together and directed the community choir that sang at the Ministerial Alliance’s Christmas service. She was a loyal member of Buffalo United Methodist Church, where she was choir director and music director.
She always was smiling and pleasant, even in the throes of pain while hospitalized. She tried to see the best in any situation. She will be missed deeply by all who loved her.
Sandy was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Don; daughter, Catriona Thomson and Mark Cline, Lansdale, Pa.; son, Emery Hatfield and Savanna Patterson, Buffalo; stepson, Daniel and wife, Mary Hatfield, Bolivar; siblings: Cindy Willis, Dallas, John Ballard, Joplin, Hugh Ballard, Springfield, Leslie Harpool, Little Rock, Ark., and Bill Ballard, Kansas City; grandchildren: Lillian and Elijah Hatfield; eight nieces and nephews; and her church family.
Paid memorial provided by family.
