Donald "Don" W. Hiatt

Mr. Donald Willard Hiatt, age 89, of Mount Airy, passed away at his home, Friday, February 10, 2023.  He was born in Surry County, July 21, 1933, to the late William Vestal and Cora Blanche Willard Hiatt.  Don graduated from Mount Airy High School where he excelled in basketball, baseball, football and track.  He received a scholarship to play football at Appalachian State Teachers College, lettering in both football and baseball.  It was at Appalachian that he met the late Betty Ann Warren Hiatt, his wife of 59 years.  He was a retired North Carolina State employee, beginning his career as a teacher and coach at Franklin School.  Don also taught drivers education for the Surry County School System and later, he trained bus drivers for the area school systems.  Don retired from the NC Department of School Bus and Traffic Safety in Raleigh, NC.  Don was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.  Throughout his life he held many callings in the church, including serving as a Bishop of The Mount Airy Second Ward.  Don,  along with his wife Betty, served a mission in the Atlanta Temple.  In retirement, Don bought a farm and made it a beautiful haven for his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, youth groups, scout troops, and visiting friends and family members, all to enjoy.  Surviving are a daughter, Betsy Hiatt Davis and her husband, Joseph Maxwell Davis, Sr. of Mt. Airy; a son, Don Willard Hiatt, Jr. and his wife, Sharon Young Hiatt of Brown Summit, NC, nine grandchildren, Joseph Maxwell Davis, Jr., James William Davis (Dawn), Mt. Airy, Teresa Davis Leiva (Carlos), Mt. Airy, Russell Willard Davis, Mt. Airy, Stacy Hiatt Wagner (James), Merritt Island, FL, Kevin Warren Hiatt (Sara), Kernersville, Ashley Hiatt Movius (Kevin), Bristow, VA, Scott William Hiatt (Cassie), Charlotte, and Eric Monroe Hiatt (Samantha), Gainsville, VA; twenty-one great grandchildren, Emma Davis, Taylor Davis, Scarlett Davis, Alex Leiva, Sylvia Leiva, Ashley Wagner, Justin Novac, Lily Novac, Rubianna Novac, Jessica Wagner, Elise Hiatt, Tess Hiatt, Bruce Hiatt, Pierce Movius, Tyson Movius, Cade Movius, Nixon Movius, Ivy Movius, Maisie Hiatt, Remi Hiatt, Summer Hiatt; a brother, Agee Hiatt (Wilma), Tobaccoville, and two sisters, Carol Jean Coe of Thomasville and Elaine Hullinger (David), Springville, UT.  In addition to his wife and parents, Don was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers-in-law, Yvonne Taylor, Freeman Taylor, and Sonny Coe.  Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, 162 Temple Lane, Mt. Airy, conducted by Bishop Brian Johnson.  Burial will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens.  The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday from 11:00 am until the time of the service.  The family wishes to thank Mountain Valley Hospice for the care they provided during his last days.  Flowers will be accepted, or a memorial contribution may be sent to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 1427 Edgewood Dr., Suite 101, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.  Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.