George William Hiatt

Mr. George William Hiatt, 92, of Memphis, TN, passed away Monday afternoon, December 4, 2023.  Mr. Hiatt was born January 5, 1931, in Surry County, NC, one of eleven children born to the late Ashby and Maude Ella Belton Hiatt.  George joined the United States Air Force in 1949, serving in Germany and France.  He met his wife, Nita Sue, on a blind date and they were married in 1954.  They moved to Memphis, TN, where George worked as an air traffic controller and Nita Sue as a nurse.  They had six children, Dean, an infant son, Vickie Thomas, Barry (Rena), Pam Sutcliffe (Rob), and Sheila Burlison (Chuck).  They were members of Oakhaven United Methodist Church and later Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where he was active in the UM Committee on Relief, assisting communities after natural disasters.  He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1987.  He was a man of great faith, and nothing was more important than his family.  Every week, the family gathered for fried catfish at Silver Caboose, building lasting memories with his great-grandchildren.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Hiatt was preceded in death by his wife, Nita Sue Carico Hiatt; an infant son; and nine siblings, Raymond, Marie, Arlyss, Doris, Arnold, Lucille, Royst, Bobby Lee, and Edsel.  He is survived by five children; eight grandchildren, Brooke Wilson (Gary), Amber Plass (Tommy), Drew Thomas (Elisa), Britney Tillman (Joe), Justin Burlison (Brittany), Austin Hiatt (Jordan), Lindsey Morris (Justin), and Blaine Burlison; eleven great-grandchildren, McCoy, Cole, Bennett, Madelyn, Ellis, Hiatt, Riley, Samuel, Davy, Hunter, and Beckett; and a sister, Joan Gammons  The family will receive friends Sunday, December 10, 2023, from 1:30 until 3:00 PM at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 2404 Kirby Road, Memphis, TN, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM.  Interment will occur on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Edmonds Cemetery, Crestview Lane, Ennice, NC, with military honors conducted by Sparta VFW Memorial Honor Guard Post 7034.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Emmanuel United Methodist Church or Rossville Church.  Collierville Funeral Home in Collierville, TN, and Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy, NC, are serving the family.