Florence Raef Elliott Hatfield – August 21, 2013


Hatfield Obit Pic

Florence Raef Elliott Hatfield, 97, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013.
Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, in Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel.  Funeral services will at 11:00 a.m., Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel with the Rev. Scott L. Raef, pastor of St. Thomas Catholic Church officiating.  Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Florence was born the eleventh of twelve children to Frank and Nellie Raef on Sept. 25, 1915, in the small community of Llano, near Claude.  Her family moved to St. Francis community in August 1916.  She attended St. Mary’s Academy and graduated in 1933.  She then attended Fleming Business College.
She met John Edward Elliott at a community baseball game.  He was a pitcher nicknamed “Sore Arm” for the fastball he could throw.  They married in June 1940.  In July 1943, John enlisted in the Navy.  They moved to San Diego where he was stationed.  He was discharged in October 1945.  Their son, Ronald Eugene Elliott was born in November 1946.  Six months later John lost his life in a fishing accident in July 1947.
In June 1950, she married Gerald Hatfield and they opened and managed a drive in restaurant east of Amarillo for many years. After Gerald’s death in 1988, she sold the property and moved to a home in Amarillo to be near her son.
She was a strong and hard working woman.  She cared for many of her siblings in their later years.  Her faith was always with her.  She spent the last five years of her life in Bivins Memorial Nursing Home.
The family would like to thank the staff at Bivins for their loving care, especially Kim Shipman.
Survivors include her son, Ron Elliott and wife Dorothy; three grandchildren, Shon Elliott, Corey Elliott and Robin Tipps, and their spouses; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Francis Catholic Church or St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

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