Beverly Alice Hiatt

Surrounded by her family and at peace, Beverly Alice Hiatt took her last Earthly breath on April 7th, 2022.

She was born at home on May 31st, 1948 in the tiny hamlet of Horton, Kentucky, the twelfth of thirteen children. She was a graduate of Murray State University. Beverly was a nurse in both Hawaii and Kentucky before relocating to Lake Charles and marrying the love of her life, Jim Hiatt.

She became one of the first women's nurse practitioners for SWLA, having received her Masters of Nursing in Women’s Health from North Texas University. She retired from the Louisiana Department of Health in 2009 after a 32-year career as a public health nurse, having lovingly served the communities of Cameron, Calcasieu, Jeff Davis, Allen and Beauregard parishes.

Bev had a huge servant’s heart. Genuine kindness and love saturated everything she did. This love flowed through her from the Source, and she generously poured it into everyone around her. Beyond kind and compassionate, she was a humble helper. She loved caring for others, being present alongside suffering, and sharing love, healing and hope. Her faith was strong - she so loved God and knew how beloved and precious she was. She knew how beloved and precious we all are, and often would be the hands and feet that remind us of God’s grace and unconditional love. She was a member of University United Methodist Church, and previously a member of Sale Street Baptist Church and University Baptist Church. She loved, direct from the Source of all love.

Nurturing and caring were also a hobby, and she loved spending time in her garden. Bev was an amazing gardener - everything she attempted to grow she could. She enjoyed being outside, getting in the dirt, watching birds (cardinals were her favorite!), and spending time with her family. She adored her grandchildren, and lavishly poured herself into their lives. She loved their individuality, celebrating them, making them food, doing homework with them, and going to every single event and game. She endlessly demonstrated that love with the way she lived: with gratitude and generosity, so kind and loving. She loved generously, and she is so loved.

Beverly had a great gift at identifying needs and finding a capacity to have them met. Her selflessness was a testament to surrender and trust and being in tune with the Spirit. She was an incredible advocate and encourager. She saw the best in people, and she would let them know. She was a giver who loved to volunteer and enjoyed stocking and organizing the pantry shelves at Manna Ministries. When her grandchildren were attending Dolby Elementary, she was the Teaching Garden volunteer, and would walk over on weekends and holidays to take care of the plants while the children and teachers were away. It brought her immense joy to surprise the teachers, secretaries, and bus drivers with roses from her garden, homemade treats, and refreshing drinks! Sharing generously with others was one of her ways of loving people.

Bev loved to get up before the sun, have a bit of coffee, read, pray, and make a to-do list. “Wash, dry, fold, wash, dry, fold.” She was optimistic and always had quite an agenda for the day. She loved to laugh, and her witty comebacks and snark were a delight. If anyone asked, "How are you feeling," she said "with my hands;" if asked "what are you up to," she'd reply "5 foot 2." She loved generously, and she was so, so special.

She was preceded in death by her parents and eleven siblings. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Jim Hiatt; daughter Mary Caldwell (Benjamin); son James Hiatt (Laura); 4 grandchildren Jeremiah, Marley, and Selah Hiatt; Charles Caldwell; sister Joan Hobdy (Jackie) of Horton, Kentucky and many other nieces, nephews and extended family.

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, visitation at Johnson's Funeral Home in Lake Charles will begin at 10 AM followed at 11 AM with a memorial and celebration of life service.

Words cannot fully express the family's deep gratitude to her nurse Stephanie and the entire Amedisys Hospice team for their loving care over the past year. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her honor to Water’s Edge Food Pantry or Manna Ministries. Life is so short; she'd be honored if you'd remember to practice gratitude, to be kind, and to love your neighbor.