Ara Jean Hiatt

Ara Jean Avery Hiatt, 92, of Mt. Airy, passed away on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Northern Regional Hospital in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. She was born in Snowflake, Arizona on May 5, 1932, to the late Floyd Fay Avery and Sadie Hulet Avery. Ara Jean graduated from Brigham Young High School in Provo, Utah. She married her sweetheart, Wilbur D. Hiatt on August 21, 1951, in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple where they were sealed for time and all eternity. Soon afterward, they moved to Mt. Airy where they raised their 11 children. Ara Jean was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in various callings throughout her life including Cub Scout den leader, ward organist, Primary teacher, Young Women's President and Relief Society President. Ara Jean is survived by daughters, Dena (Keith) Earhart, Carolyn Gentry, Jennifer (Ray) Riska, and Janeen (Michael) Ashcraft, sons, Gene (Jane) Hiatt, Stewart (Ann) Hiatt, Alan (Karen) Hiatt, Jesse (Louise) Hiatt, and Derrik (Rachel) Hiatt, daughters-in-law, Susan Roush, and Cynthia (John) Dean, a sister, Sue Swain, and a brother, Condon Avery. Ara Jean was very proud of her posterity. Her 57 grandchildren, 118 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren brought much joy to her life. In addition to her parents, Ara Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Delma Hiatt, daughter, Ara Noreen Hiatt Roush, sons, John Sterling Hiatt, and Floyd Avery Hiatt, sons-in-law, Bill Roush, Gregory Hiatt, and Geoffrey Gentry, sisters, Dena Joyce Avery, brothers Chad Avery, Barry Avery, and John LeGrande Avery. The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the nurses, CNAs, and volunteers of the skilled care unit at Northern Hospital, and the Mountain Valley Hospice staff who have attended to our mother. The care that she received for nearly two years has been amazing and is truly appreciated. The funeral service will be held Friday January 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 162 Temple Lane, Mt. Airy, with Brother Brandon Belk officiating. Interment will be held in the James Monroe Hiatt Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday January 2, 2025, from 6:00 -8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy and on Friday morning at the church until the hour of the service.