Janice Gay Hiatt 82, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Thursday April 11, 2024, at her home in St. Joseph, MO. She was born December 23, 1941, in Rushville, Missouri, the first daughter of the late Louise & J.W Griffith.
Janice graduated from DeKalb High School in 1959, and Draughon’s College of Commerce in Kansas City, Missouri in 1960. In 1961 she married David Hiatt and moved to St. Joseph, Mo. She worked steadily as a secretary with different companies including Ken Clark Grain Co. and Massey Ferguson. She then built a successful business as a Home Interior’s Gifts independent retailer, and helped decorate the homes of hundreds of women for more than 25 years, making lifelong friendships in the process. In her later years she put her considerable culinary skills to work in the bakery at Leupold’s Greenhouse, where she was affectionately known as the “Pielady”. She was a member of the Community Christian Church. Janice enjoyed decorating, baking, quilting, embroidery, canasta with family, poker with friends, and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her parents, twin daughters, Denise and Dana, sister, Judy Eckelbarger, and son-in-law, Aaron Abel.
David Mearle Hiatt 83, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in a St. Joseph, MO hospital after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born August 4, 1940, in DeKalb, Missouri, son of the late Rosie & Haskell Hiatt. He graduated from DeKalb High School in 1958, and found steady factory work at Armour, Swift, and KW Dart. He retired from Snorkel, where he sustained a 30-year career as an assembler.
David enjoyed the nostalgic memories of his father’s garage, and was an avid collector of petrobilia, amassing an impressive collection that he creatively displayed in his Southend backyard, creating a landmark that most people would recognize and appreciate. He also loved classic cars, NASCAR, country and bluegrass music, tinkering in his shop, and his wife’s cooking. He attended Community Christian Church with wife Janice.
David was preceded in death by his parents, twin daughters, Denise & Dana, son in law, Aaron Abel, and brothers, Hylan and Monte Hiatt, sister-in-law, Judy Eckelbarger, and brother-in-law, Billy Ray.
Janice and David leave behind son, Darron (Ronna) Hiatt, and daughter, Angela Abel, both of St. Joseph, MO, grandchildren: Danyale (Joel) Morlock, and Heather (Dustin) Adams, Dara (Cory) Shanks, great-grandchildren: Taylor (Lane) Newell, Dylan (Cambryn) McDowell, Jorgie Adams, Avery, and Milo Shanks: great great grandchildren: Trace, Lottan, Ryland, Hayden, and Holden. Janice is also survived by her sisters; Cheryl (Truman) Hiatt, Smithville, MO, and Connie (Bob) Wollenman of St. Joseph, MO, and David is survived by brother Truman (Cheryl) Hiatt, Smithville, MO, and sister, Rosalie Ray of Savannah, MO.
The family will receive friends from 1-3:00 pm Saturday April 20, 2024 at the Rupp Funeral Home followed by a combined celebration of both Janice and David's lives starting at 3:00 pm Saturday at the Rupp Funeral Home. Dual graveside services will be at the Westlawn Cemetery, DeKalb, MO.
Memorials are requested to the Friends of the Animal Shelter in care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence, obituary and public livestream at www.ruppfuneral.com.
