John William Thomas Hatcher

John William Thomas Hatcher entered into eternal life on March 9, 2026, after a courageous battle with ALS. Born on October 1, 1961, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Donald and Shirley Hatcher (McIntosh), he was the second son of his parents and younger brother to Daniel. Raised in Council Bluffs, John embraced his youth as a Boy Scout with a deep love for sports and music. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1980 and Iowa Western Community College in 1983 before moving west to live in Colorado, Arizona, and California.

In February 1989, while working in California for Par Microsystems, John called the New York office and spoke with Lori Davis. It was Valentine’s Day, and through that conversation he learned she had not received flowers or had a valentine. He promised to take her to dinner the next time he was in town, and their relationship blossomed from there. They fell in love over the phone, and in 1989 moved together to Georgia, where John embraced the role of father to Lori’s six-year-old son, Nicholas. John and Lori married on June 8, 1991, in Roswell, Georgia, with celebrations in both Iowa and New York. Their daughter, Calli Marie, was born in February 1993. Together they built a home in Suwanee, Georgia, and later moved to South Carolina. John was a devoted husband, father, and provider whose hard work in sales allowed him to care for his family with both strength and tenderness.

John’s gift for building genuine relationships defined his life. He coached his children, Nick and Calli, for more than twenty seasons as “Coach John,” teaching countless young athletes not only sports but also discipline, accountability, and teamwork. His faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of everything he did. Raised in Grace Presbyterian Church, he gave his life to Christ at age fourteen and remained steadfast in his walk with the Lord. He served faithfully at Shadowbrook Baptist Church and later at Lifepointe Christian Church in South Carolina, where he and Lori led an “Empty Nesters” life group for many years. Even after his ALS diagnosis in February 2024, John maintained a positive spirit, placing his trust in God and expressing gratitude for the full life he had been given.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Shirley Hatcher, his brother Daniel Hatcher, and many beloved family members and pets. John is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Lori Hatcher; son Nick Welch and wife Sara of Auburn, Georgia; daughter Calli Washburn and husband Collin of Owasso, Oklahoma; grandchildren Avery, Easton, and Elliana Welch, and Gracyn and Austyn Washburn; his mother-in-law Patricia Davis; and many cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, church family, and dear friends.