Paul Hiatt

My name is Paul this is my story.  If you’re reading this it means I have gone on my final journey to meet the big guy up in the sky, after all none of us are getting out of this alive, ha ha…

My parents Rulon LaVier Hiatt and Rosella Betts gave me life on May 28, 1940.  Before the age of one my dad died and mom remarried a pretty standup guy also named Rulon, George Shaw.  I knew this man as my father and he loved and cared for me as his own as long as he lived.

At the age of six, our family was living on Redondo Avenue. One morning my brother David and I were our way to school. If you remember Dave you will also remember he never really was full of good ideas.  On our way to school we had to cross 13^th East, which was a busy street in the morning.  David as always ran across the road as fast as he could and then would call for me to follow. “Run Paul, Run” he’d yell.  So I started on a mad dash across the street listening to my brothers words of wisdom. Half way across the road, what began as my mad dash across the street turned into instant panic when I heard the strain in Dave’s voice and the words, “Stop Paul, Stop!” by then it was too late. I quickly found myself underneath the wheels of a truck.  Luckily I had slowed down as well as the driver and the only injury was to my foot when the truck ran it over. Screaming in pain the officer scooped me up and put me in his patrol car.  My foot hurt like hell and I was scared to death but fear slowly turned into a little bit of fun.  The officer distracted me by letting me run the lights and siren until the ambulance got there.  Who knew that one day I would become a police officer like the man that helped me that day?

 I lived in Salt Lake City most of my life.  Years after my graduation I met the love of my life Josie, and we ran off to Elko to get married on October 15, 1961. We had three wonderful children Kelly, Pamala, and our youngest daughter Corinne.   Josie and I ran our own TV repair business called the “TV Shack” for about 20 years.  Having our own business allowed us to spend time as a family boating on the lake for a week at a time, camping in the desert, going on vacations, and driving the surrounding states exploring the sites. I loved my wife and kids, my dogs, exploring old ghost towns, the oldies, my Honda motorcycle, gardening, and spending time tinkering around the garage sometimes painting and fixing up cars.

By this time Jo and I were blessed with grandkids!  Pam and Mike gave us Steven; Corinne and Allen gave us Austin and our blue eyed grand-daughter Ashley Rose. Oh the memories I have of you kids. I love you all so much. I have really enjoyed seeing how you have grown and who you have become.

After the TV Shack I became security guard for ADT Security and then decided to go to P.O.S.T. and become a Utah Highway Patrolman.  Along with my job as a patrol officer, I later helped create the Drug Recognition program, and became the Drug Recognition Expert and Administrator. The job allowed Jo and I to travel around to some wonderful places teaching other officers about the program. I loved that job and often with Jo at myside we saw some beautiful sites.  After about 18 years, I was hit from behind in my patrol car while on duty by a drunk driver, little did I know at the time I would find myself retired with a lifelong back injury.

Shortly after that Josie and I decided to get out of the cold and move to Arizona to enjoy our golden years and the heat.  We enjoyed those lazy days and we were always together.  We loved driving through the desert and taking in the landscapes.  There was always time for relaxing, we would sit together and feed the birds and rabbits or just sit together watching movies and hold hands like we did when we were young.

As time passed by the Golden years soon began to tarnish.  I found myself with all sorts of ailments, body-rot is what I called it.  I am a fighter and proud to say I am a cancer survivor.  Sadly though I couldn’t fight off the complications that come with diabetes and Alzheimer’s although I tried to the very end.  My amazing wife, this beautiful, strong, loving woman cared for me, loved me unconditionally, and stood by side all these years until the end when I finally met my maker.

I have lived a wonderful life and enjoyed every minute of it.  I am survived by my loving wife Josie, my son Kelly, and my two daughters and their families, Pamala, husband Mike and son Steve, and his wife Bethany; and my youngest daughter Corinne, her husband Allen Dale, son Austin with his new wife Miss Katie, and my granddaughter Ashley Rose, all of whom reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.

To my friends and family, I love you all so much. I will always be watching over you and in your hearts.

My greatest love,

Paul

Please join the family Friday, December 30th  from 10:00am  – 12:00pm  for an open house at Starks Funeral Parlor 3651 South 900 East Salt Lake City, UT.  With a burial following at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.