Hendrika Georgia Heykoop Hatley (Henny)

October 16, 2016

 

Hendrika Georgia Heykoop Hatley (Henny), was born May 15, 1926 in New York City, and died October 16, 2016 while visiting her son’s family in Asheville, NC.   She was the oldest child of Jan Heykoop and Josina Groenevelt Heykoop. Her father was a Dutch civil engineer who was working for a New York firm at that time. Shortly after Henny's first birthday, she returned with her parents to Holland, where they lived until she was three years old. The family returned to the United States when Henny's father was sent to western North Carolina to build the first American Enka textile plant in the US. They remained in this country, and Henny's parents became citizens of the United States in 1944.

Henny was educated at St. Genevieve's Academy in Asheville, North Carolina, and at Duke University, where she received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946. Several months after graduation, she returned to Duke to work on the campus and met Tom (Marvin Thomas Hatley Jr.), who was teaching in the College of Engineering at Duke. Henny and Tom were married at the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville in 1948 during a memorable snowstorm and moved to Charlotte in 1950 when Tom went to work for Duke Power Company. In 1955, they built a house on Ashworth Road in Charlotte and lived there together until Tom died in 2013. Henny moved to Sharon Towers where she enjoyed happy times and new friends.

Henny had been a member of Myers Park United Methodist Church since 1951, and was active in the work of the church. While their children were young, Henny worked with PTAs in several schools, taught Sunday School classes, was a Cub Scout den mother and a Girl Scout leader. She served two terms on the board of The Hornet's Nest Girl Scout Council.

After Tom's retirement from Duke Power, Henny and Tom traveled the world, including a trip down the Amazon River to see Halley's Comet in 1986. Henny's trips to Holland to visit family members were always a well-remembered pleasure.

Henny was a painter and lover of art herself and studied engraving under Claire Leighton at Duke. She served as a long-term docent and board member of the Mint Museum, where she especially enjoyed conducting educational programs for children. One of her greatest pleasures was the Cranford Book Club which was a source of friendship, learning and pleasure.

Henny is survived by her son, Tom Hatley and his wife, Jane of Asheville, daughter, Ellen Archer and her husband, Bill of Charlotte, daughter, Jane Smoak and her husband, Bill of Edisto Island SC; eight grand-children, Mary and Sally Archer; Lizzie Bowman and husband, Janson; Parker, Becky and Josie Hatley; and Sarah and Wightman Smoak. She was the proud great-grandmother of Aven Bowman. Henny is also survived by her sister, Alda Dell, and a brother, Jan Heykoop and his wife, Ans.

Henny loved to read, especially mysteries. She also loved museums, public libraries, and North Carolina pottery, but she reserved special affection for her grandchildren, of whom she was very proud, and her own dogs, grand-dogs and related dogs. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and sister, and wonderful grandmother, who will be remembered for her dry sense of humor, and her enjoyment of travel.    

Services will be held at the Myers Park United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. A graveside service for the family will be held at the Salem United Methodist Church, Millingport, NC, on Sunday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 or the Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207. Condolences may be left on line at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Services, 1321 Berkeley Ave Charlotte NC 28204. Phone: 704 641-7606

 

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  • Donald Morris, Jr

    Tommy, I am sorry to learn of the passing of your mother. My condolences to your entire family. Donald Morris, Jr.

  • barbara bernhardt

    Dear Ellen and family,
    So very sorry for your loss. Your mother was one of the good ones I knew-a real lady. Just first class all the way. I so remember all of our work together on the Girl Scout Board so many years ago. May her memory be a blessing and an inspiration to you and all the family.
    Barbara Bernhardt

  • Susan Runge Bost

    My deepest condolences, Ellen, upon the passing of your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    Sincerely,
    Susan Runge Bost