Thomas “Keith” was born Tuesday, April 24, 1928 in Owen Sound to Clarence and Jessie (McDonald) Hatten. Keith always loved telling the actual story of his birth, as he was really born in the back seat of the doctor’s car on Grey Rd. 40, on their way into Owen Sound. He was the middle child of three; Glenn born in 1923, Keith, and Joyce born in 1932. The Hattens farmed in Sullivan Township. Keith first went to school by the Hemstock Mill and completed his elementary education in Chatsworth. He was an intelligent young man who sped through eight years of education, in four to five. He completed his formal education in Owen Sound at OSCVI.
Keith first entered the workforce in his late teens, that is off the farm, at the Bank of Montreal in Chatsworth. He was both promoted and transferred to the branch in Acton where he stayed for a further three years. At that point he was looking for a change of scenery and returned back to the Chatsworth area where he started to farm and clear bush.
In 1958, Keith and his older brother Glenn bought the hardware store in Chatsworth. Regrettably, it was the same year their sister Joyce died suddenly from an aneurysm. In 1964 the hardware store became one of the 122 independent Ontario hardware retailers that purchased Hollinger Hardware Limited of St. Jacobs, Ontario. This resulted in the formation of a Dealer-owned hardware cooperative – an answer to the challenge posed by “big box” retailers who enjoyed the advantage of direct-from-manufacturer buying power. Hatten’s Home Hardware was born. It was during this time that Keith also helped out at the funeral home in Chatsworth. However, after several years he decided that the Hardware store was the career path for him.
Keith was thirty-one and had met a beautiful young woman, eighteen years of age, working at the grocery store. Keith and Flossie Kathleen Hodgson dated for two years and were married Monday, March 9, 1964 at the Holland Centre church manse. Kay and Keith had six children born to them: Steve in 1963; Marilyn in 1964; Janice in 1965; Brian who was stillborn in 1970; Kevin in 1971 and Brad in 1972.
In 1973 Keith sold the hardware store in Chatsworth and bought Ward’s Pro Hardware store in downtown Chesley. He turned it into a Home Hardware and within a couple of years had added the building supply section of the business. By 1985, Keith and Kay had passed the ownership of their business onto their children but continued to be involved in the business until their retirement. Along the way, Keith held a position on Chesley Town Council as well as acting as a Reeve.
Keith had a number of interests, even passions. He loved to garden, of course. Potatoes were his forte and if he didn’t produce a thousand pounds in a summer, it was a bad year. He also grew tomatoes and one year even attempted to grow four types of corn…. imagine! Guess what were two of Keith’s favourite foods? Well, boiled potatoes and tomato soup of course! Funny enough he despised sweet potatoes until he actually tried one and therefore recently added them to his garden. Keith’s garden would not only feed him and Kay, but also often fed his children and their families as well. Being the frugal type of guy that he was, Keith loved going to flea markets and was always looking for a deal. Ask his family about his hat, shoe and spring jacket collection and you will quickly see all the bargains he found.
The Hattens travelled quite a bit. They took in two oversea Hardware tours that took them to Eastern and Southern Europe. They also travelled extensively to both the east and west coasts of Canada with their children. In the early 90’s, once retired, they began their annual migrations to Florida. They would spend six weeks there in the fall, drive home to be with their family at Christmas, which was very important to them, and return south for an additional eight weeks in the spring.
Keith was not only bright he was athletic as well. He enjoyed curling and even water skiing when his family owned their cottage at Williams Lake. And, as if that wasn’t enough, Keith was great at, and enjoyed, fixing TV’s and appliances. In his younger years, he enjoyed building with his own two hands. He built their family cottage, homes (with the Hardware store), working in the shop and many smaller items around the house. Once retired Keith enjoyed working in his shop building furniture. When able to relax, Keith loved his sports teams, especially the Leafs and Blue Jays. When watching TV, he would consistently mute out the commercials, often forgetting to reverse the function when his program came back on.
He was not so much into music, but he did love to do research on the internet. Yes, Keith adapted well to the computer and loved studying history on it. Keith was hardworking, of course, stubborn and very particular. You either did it his way or the wrong way! He was a worrier, believe it or not, always checking in on his family, even on a daily basis. Keith was always on time, a trait that has not been passed down to all his children (they know who they are) and very respectful of others.
Sadly, Keith’s health has declined in recent years and he passed away at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley on Saturday, January 21, 2017 in his 89th year.
Leaving to mourn his absence is his wife Kay; children Steve (Lori), Marilyn Gateman, Jan (Kelly) Harrison, Kevin (Cathy) and Brad (Michelle); grandchildren Mike, Devin, Andrew, Tyler, Travis, Danielle, Kyle, Katelyn, Aaron, Gabrielle, Kyle, Victoria, Bruce, Dakota, Kiara, Lisa and Ashley; great-grandchildren Chloe, Jaicelyn, Ethan, Cuyler, Riley, Seth and Olivia and sister-in-law Thelma. Keith was predeceased by his infant son Brian, brother Glenn, sister Joyce and his parents, Clarence and Jessie (McDonald) Hatten.
Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home on Tuesday from 7 – 9 p.m., where a funeral service celebrating Keith’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 25th, 2017 at 11 a.m., with visiting one hour prior to service. Spring interment in Chesley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
