of Little Rock, AR

October 30, 1938 - July 25, 2021

Irma Gail Hatcher went to be with the Lord on July 25, 2021. She was 82 years old.

Irma Gail Hatcher was born in Fort Worth Texas on October's 30, 1938.She attended Poly High School graduating in 1956. She married the love of her life Joe Hatcher at 18 years old. While married she graduated from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas with a degree in education. She taught 4th grade at Baldwin Elementary for years while raising three children.

As her husband Joe was promoted, they made several moves from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas to Park College in Parkville, Missouri to Albion College in Albion, Michigan and finally to Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas where her husband was the President of Hendrix College. After the move from Baldwin Irma Gail gave up her teaching job and served as a volunteer teacher both at the school and the church.

She was very creative and also taught art classes as well. Her favorite forms of art changed throughout the years from painting, to drawing, to needlepoint and eventually found a final passion with quilting. She became a master quilter, many times spending over a year on a quilt while working 8 hours a day on one quilt year round. Her quilts were masterpieces and 3 of them are in the National Quilting Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Her quilt ''Conway Album-I'm not from Baltimore'' was named one of the 100 Best Quilts of the Twentieth Century.

Her quilts graced the covers of numerous national magazines and publications. She taught quilting classes, was the of the President and Founder of the Conway Quilters and she wrote numerous quilting books. She was named an Arkansas Treasure for her work and recognized by the Governor and The Arkansas Historical Society.

The Hatcher family is known for its competitive fire, but few knew where it originally stemmed from. Irma Gail was a fierce competitor when she was passionate about something. She wanted her quilts to be the best ever and they were. In her younger days she was certainly a clutch tennis player as well. If she wanted to do something she got it done and if she didn't want to do something she was just as strong. In her final years she had 9 lives making it through countless medical procedures most would not survive. She wanted to live and was a fighter and fought through it. In the end after being in the hospital for 11 days she regained consciousness and asked us to let her go be with lord. She got to say goodbye to her family and caregivers and passed on to heaven with her three children holding her hand.

She had a great sense of humor and was always ready for fun. Her husband was disciplined and steady but Irma Gail provided the passion and fun to make his life better. They will be joined together again.

Irma Gail is predeased by her father and mother Mr. and Mrs L. G. Collins, and her husband Dr. Joe B. Hatcher. She is survived by her 3 Children and their spouses Greg Hatcher (Lee Hatcher), Geoff Hatcher (Caroline Hatcher) of Little Rock and Gailyn Strobing (Rob Strobing) of St. Louis, Missouri, 6 grandchildren - Kelsey Dacus (Weston Dacus ) , Haley Weaver (Walter Weaver), Larkin Hatcher, Layne Hatcher, Mattie Hatcher, Geoffrey Hatcher and Lynley Childress, her Sister Sharon Green (Bill Green) of Granbury Texas, a niece Laura Palmer (Chris Palmer) of Flower Mound, Texas and Nephew Chris Green (Kristi Green)also of Fort Worth, Texas, and 4 Great Grandchildren - Kate Dacus, A.J. Dacus, Jordy Dacus, and Henry Weaver.

Irma Gail spent many of her church years at the Conway United Methodist Church before joining Trinity Presbyterian Church when she moved to Little Rock to be closer to her children. Visitation will be held at Roller McNutt Funeral Home (801 8th Avenue) in Conway from 5 to 8 pm on Monday, August 2nd . The funeral for Irma Gail Hatcher will be held at Hendrix College's Greene Chapel (1600 Washington Avenue) on Tuesday August 3rd at 11 am with Graveside services being held in Conway at Oak Grove Cemetary at 305 Bruce Street shortly afterwards.

Memorials can be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72223 or Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway AR 72032

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