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CANTON, OK - Donald Vernon Hatch of Canton, OK, passed away peacefully Aug. 7, 2013, at Okeene Hospital in Okeene, OK, after battling lung cancer.
Mr. Hatch was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on November 9, 1929, to Leonard and Katie Mae Simms Hatch.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Viola (Sutton) Hatch whom he married on June 5, 1954. He is also survived by his children, Sue Silcott and husband, David; Hollie Youngbear and husband, Duke and Donald ( Buddy) Vernon Hatch Jr. and companion Robin Noyes; eight grandchildren including Nikolas Hatch, Brian Fielder, Dusty Fielder, Regina Greeley, Melanie Youngbear, Adam Youngbear, Darren Silcott and Ryan Silcott; and sister, Doris Hatch. Also surviving are close family members Kenneth and June Paulsen, Camp families of White Eagle; his brother, Dennis Banks and all the brothers and sisters of the American Indian movement.
Hatch had a successful career in the military when at the age of 15 he joined the merchant marines where he traveled overseas to many other countries and recalls celebrating his 16th birthday in France. He also joined the U.S. Air Force and ranked as a corporal, where he served as a B-25 mechanic for three years, when he was stationed at Vance Air Force base in Enid, Oklahoma. After a few years, Hatch went back to sea, where he spent the next 15 years working as an able-bodied seaman in the merchant marines.
In 1962, he returned to Oklahoma, where he was employed at Kenneth Paulsen’s Texaco Service Station in Canton. He was also employed by Delbert Strands 66 Service Station and spent 15 years at Waldon’s manufacturing plant in Fairview.
Don and his wife Viola and family members became active members of the American Indian movement (AIM).
Don and Viola were politically active at the protest of Hammond school which resulted in the formation of the Institute of the Southern Plains School of Hammond, Oklahoma. After Hammond, Don and Viola went to help at the occupation of Wounded Knee where Don was adopted into the Henry Crowdog family. He enjoyed old man Crowdog getting out his guitar and singing Lakota courting songs. Since Wounded Knee, Don and Viola have traveled extensively all over the world fighting for the causes of the indigenous people. They also led The Walk for Survival of Family and Mother Earth in remembrance of the Indian prisoners that were incarcerated at Fort Marion Prison in Florida. They were the first Indian people that led such a walk for the native prisoners. Don was also among the demonstration and coalition to protect Bear Butte.
Don once said and will be best remembered by his words when he said, “We’ve had a good, rich life. We have a wonderful family we’re really close to and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Hatch is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roger Hatch; two brothers, Retired Captains, Gale and Buddy Hatch; a sister, June Pierce, and two great- grandsons, David Youngbear and Daryl Youngbear.
A wake service will be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at the Canton Native American Gymnasium. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013, at the same venue.
Interment will follow in Canton Indian Mennonite Cemetery under the direction of Haigler-Pierce Funeral Home, Canton. Condolences may be made online at www.haiglerpierce.com.
(Submitted by family)
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