The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – A handful of individuals in every community make their mark by fulfilling the call to civic responsibility by working with clubs and organizations and/or holding public office in order to serve the needs of society. These people deserve our gratitude, appreciation and honor.

Even less common than the handful is the singleton who forgoes public and organized service in favor of making a conscious effort to touch lives and show love to all who crossed his path. Such is the case with Waitsburg native Thomas (Tom) Hiatt, who passed away September 3. Throughout Waitsburg, citizens have expressed sadness at the loss of this kind and loving soul.

After retiring from the railroad, Hiatt and his wife, Mary, moved into his mother’s home on the corner of 6th and Orchard. From the vantage of the front porch, Tom made a point to extend warmth and love to all who passed by. The couple was also known to open their home to those in need. Mike Ferrians, pastor of the Waitsburg First Christian Church just across the street, enjoyed his friendship with Tom, their occasional philosophical conversations, and watching Tom extend kindness to others.

“Tom took up the porch,” said Ferrians. “He made it a comfortable, cozy, welcoming place.

“Some people apparently thought it was kind of redneck, but Tom would just laugh at this,” Ferrians continued. “A lot of us loved that porch. Tom had decided, somewhere inside him, that reaching out to neighbors and children with grace and hospitality was what he was supposed to do. He wanted to be a good person, a friendly, loving, accepting and non-judgmental person. He was eccentric in some ways, and that may have endeared him to folks. He took to greeting kids walking by to and from school or church. He learned their names. He would bake cookies for them. He would tell them to look both ways before crossing the street. He loved all this. A couple years ago, he made pear wine from Jan’s [Cronkhite] tree fruit, and it was very good. He shared it freely.”

Leroy Cunninghom shared similar sentiments in a post on Facebook. “’Did I tell you that I love you today? Come here, give me a hug!’ That is what Tom would say each time we crossed paths. Tom was always a straight shooter who never abandoned his strong human values and the value of friendships; a burly cupid whose life mission was to spread the love of fellow man. Actions speak louder than words and I will miss his hugs dearly as will those in this greater community who really knew the man inside; a beautiful, burly soul.”

Ferrians said that years ago Tom had shared a poem read at his mother’s funeral and that he wanted read at his. The poem depicts a beautiful ship leaving shore and a bystander saying “there she goes” as he wonders just where she has gone. The final line reads:

And just at the moment when someone says, “There she goes,” there are other eyes watching her coming, voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes.”

“He loved that,” said Ferrians.