Loren Dale Hatfield, 68, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville after a 2 ½ year courageous fight against pancreatic cancer.

The son of Clell Olin and Myrtle Winona (Montgomery) Hatfield, was born September 17, 1947 in Kirksville, Missouri. On March 30, 1968, Loren was united in marriage to Cena “Dottie” Pearce in Kirksville, Missouri. From this union 3 children were born: Michael Dale (Charisse and children Cameron Dale Hatfield and Holly Michelle Hatfield), Eric William (Shannon and children Kaitlyn Grace Hatfield, Sydney Michelle Weber and Slade Kenneth Weber), and Karrie Ann (Donnie and children Delaney Cena and Sophia Anna Maag) all of Kirksville, Missouri. Marty G. Pope, close friend and cousin.

Loren graduated from Novinger R-I High School in 1965 and attended Northeast Missouri State University (NMSU) for a year. Loren farmed in the Low Ground and Green Grove communities north of Novinger with his family until he entered the United States Air Force on February 12, 1967. He was stationed in Texas, North Dakota, Michigan and on the island of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Loren was trained as a Corrosion Control Specialist, serving as a painter on missiles, B-52s and KC135s. Advancing to Staff Sargent E-5, Loren Hatfield was nominated to work on Air Force One. His military honors include: Good Conduct Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster, Minute Man Missile, and Vietnam Service Medal.

Upon discharge on February 12, 1971, he was employed by Esterline and Updyke Motors in Kirksville, Missouri as an auto body repairman until July 19, 1973, when he obtained the Snap-On Tool franchise for the northeast Missouri area. Loren returned to the auto body repair field in November 1980 as manager of Robertson Chevrolet Body Shop. On March 18, 1985 he opened Loren Hatfield Body & Frame and on August 1, 1996 he opened Hatfield Mini Storage in Kirksville.

Loren was active in the Novinger Baseball/Softball Association for twenty-three years, coaching both boys and girls teams. He also served as a past president and on the board of directors for several years. He was also past president of the Chariton Valley Baseball Association for two years.

He is a member of the Kirksville Chamber of Commerce, Loyal Order of the Moose #1751, National Hot Rod Association, St. Rose Catholic Church and is a life member of V.F.W. #2508. His hobbies included drag racing, deer hunting, restoring old cars and truck pulling. Loren received “Rookie of the Year” and “Puller of the Year” from Iowa-Missouri Truck and Tractor Pullers, as well as the Two-Wheel Drive Class Champion. Next to his wife, children and grandchildren, his love and passion was for drag racing. Loren holds two American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) World Records. Those records are for Super Stock K Automatic (SS/KA) and Stock O Automatic (S-OA). He had numerous wins at Lee County Dragway and Eddyville Raceway Park. Loren was also awarded the Sportsman of the Year in drag racing. He was a great mentor and always had an ear for family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Bill Pearce, sister-in-law, Ruth Carol, brother-in-law, Dave West and grandparents Jessie Benjamin “Ben” and Artie Annie (May) Hatfield and James Lindsey and Ivah Mahala (Hodges) Montgomery.

He is immediately survived by his wife Cena of 47 years and children, Mike, Eric and Karrie. Also surviving are his mother-in-law Joanne Pearce of Novinger, brother Olin Dean Hatfield of Hallsville, sister-in-law Teresa West of Novinger, brother and sister-in-law Billy Joe and Sherril Pearce of Novinger. Nieces: Janet (Vern) Horne of Hallsville, Missouri, Julie (Tony) Bolton of Harrisburg, Missouri, and Janine Whitt of Novinger, Missouri. Nephews Aaron (Jaylena) Pearce of Kirksville, Missouri and Matt (Kim) West of St. Louis, Missouri. He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Public visitation will be held Sunday (December 20, 2015) with family receiving friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. Christian Wake service will be held before visitation at 3:45 p.m.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday (December 21, 2015) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Monsignor David Cox presiding. Interment with military honors will follow the service at Novinger Cemetery in Novinger, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Cameron Hatfield, Billly Joe Pearce, Aaron Pearce, Marty Pope, Keith Hammons, Ron Scott, Charles Morris and Eddie Buck. Honorary pallbearers will be the Novinger R-I Class of 1965.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Loren Hatfield Body & Frame Scholarship Fund. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.