Albert Neil Hatch passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at home with family in Mesa after a short battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Woodruff Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, followed by a graveside service at 2:30 p.m. at the Show Low Cemetery. Neil was born May 29, 1951, in Holbook to the late Albert Dell Hatch and Betty Jean Goodman. He was raised in Woodruff and graduated from high school in Holbrook before working as a radio DJ in the early 1970s, where many remember his time at KDJI, as well as at radio stations in Nebraska. He returned to Arizona and married Dayanne Hager in 1980. They moved to California in 1987, where they raised their family. Neil worked as an electrician before transitioning into a career teaching electrical theory at East Los Angeles Occupational Center (ELAOC), where his course was the most popular. He also conducted seminars to help electricians earn their California certification. He retired from ELAOC in June 2016. He loved his students, flying (he had his pilot’s license for many years), Star Trek, rock and roll music, A&W root beer and his family, especially his seven grandkids. Survivors include his mother, Betty Jean Goodman of Mesa; his sister Dale (Ray) Parrott of Mesa; two brothers, Sam Hatch of Holbrook and Joe Hatch of Mesa; his wife, Dayanne Hatch of Gilbert; son Paul (Holly) Hatch of McKinney, Texas, daughter Burgess (Zane) Ewton of Mesa, daughter Hannah Hatch of San Dimas, Calif., and son Nigel Hatch of Orem, Utah; and seven grandchildren. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
