Lea Mae Hatch

Lea Mae Kitchen Hatch passed away peacefully in her home in Tridell, Utah, December 10,

2018, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 91. Lea Mae was born May 20, 1927, in Tridell,

Utah to Joseph Levi and Blanche Cook Kitchen. She was the eighth of eleven children in her

family.

Lea Mae attended Tridell Elementary and then Alterra High School, graduating in 1946. She

grew up on a farm, and spent her days herding cattle, milking cows, riding horses, raising

chickens, and performing all other household chores with her parents and siblings. Her family

was the first in Tridell to have carbide lighting. They had no indoor plumbing.

She met the love of her life, Enes Ray Hatch, while chasing one of her older brothers out of the

house with a pitcher of water. Enes was standing on the porch and saw Lea chase her brother

Lenford. It was love at first sight. Enes and Lea Mae married three months later in the Salt

Lake Temple, in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 17, 1949.

Lea Mae loved being a wife and mother. She and Enes are parents of ten children. They also

opened their home to many foster children who needed special love and care. One special

child, James Nelson, joined the family through the Indian Placement Program, living with the

family for 3 school years. The family loved and adored James.

Lea Mae was the best homemaker ever! She loved to cook, sew clothing, make quilts, can and

preserve foods, grow a garden, and teach her children how to work hard. She was a “stay at

home Mom” and was always there when her children arrived home from school, and they were

always greeted with the aroma of freshly baked bread or cookies. If you slept until 7 am, it was

considered sleeping in by our mom. Our friends were always welcome in our home anytime.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and had an unwavering

testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ and her Father in Heaven. She showed her love of the

gospel in the way she lived her life. She was always willing to help those in need, never judged

others, and served in many positions in the Church, including Primary, Young Women, and

Relief Society. She and her husband also served as temple workers, until health issues arose.

She is survived by her children, Sandra Wallen, Mareta Oaks, Sue Hatch, Christine (Ray)

Martinsen, Kathleen (Dennis) Sharp, Scott (Tammy) Hatch, Carol (Todd) Massey, Brenda,

Connie, and Cynthia, her brothers, Lenford Kitchen, and Weldon (Dona) Kitchen, 33

grandchildren, 86 great grandchildren, and 9 great great grandchildren, and several nieces and

nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Enes Ray Hatch, her son, Mark Hatch, her great

grandson, Jack Oaks, her parents, Joseph Levi and Blanche Kitchen, her siblings, Lazelle

(Chuck) Glines, Virginia (Owen) Goodrich, Levi (Annie) Kitchen, Frances (George Bartlett), Belva

(Don) Chamberlain, Melvin (Verda), Norman Kitchen, and Maxine Kitchen Benedict, and her

grandparents.

We as a family are so thankful for her life with us, and so blessed to have been influenced by

such a wonderful and faithful woman. Our hearts are broken, and we look for the day when we

will see and be with our Mother, Grandmother, and sister again in Heaven.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 18, 2018, 11 am in the LDS Tridell Chapel,

Tridell, Utah, a viewing will be held Monday, December 17, 6-8 pm, in Vernal at Blackburn

Mortuary, and also one hour prior to funeral services, in Tridell.

Her family would like to thank everyone for all the many hours of service and love shown to our

mother. We are grateful for members of Tridell Ward in providing compassionate services to

mother and family through the last several months. Thank you also to Canyon Hospice and

Blackburn Mortuary, for the kindness shown to her and her family.

Until we meet again Mom. We love you. We miss and love you. Give Dad and Mark a big hug

for all of us.