Dr. Jerry L. Hathaway

Dr. Jerry Lee “Doc” Hathaway, 82, died on November 3, 2016, at home in Connersville, Indiana, surrounded by family, following a long battle with cancer. Jerry was born September 14, 1934, in Danville, Illinois, in his parents’ back bedroom with Dr. Eugene Moore presiding. His parents, Marguerite Genevieve Hanna Hathaway and Rowland Francis Hathaway preceded him in death. Jerry lived in Danville until age 8 and then moved to rural Kingman, Indiana, and grew up on his parents’ farm. He attended first grade at the age of 5, graduated Kingman High School in 1952, and went to college at age 17. In high school, he was a baseball and basketball player and was involved in the drama club. Jerry received his Bachelor’s in Math/Science Education from Purdue in 1956, his Master’s in Math Education from Northern Illinois University in 1959, and his PhD in School Business Administration from Indiana State University in 1970. Jerry met his love, Carol Louise Long, on Carol’s senior class trip and their first date was at the New York City World’s Fair in May 1964. He proposed three months later, and they were married April 10, 1965 in Brook, Indiana. This year they celebrated 51 years of marriage. Jerry has four daughters: Raynae Blair and her husband, Bill, of Lafayette; Holly Hathaway of Indianapolis; Michele Hathaway Shinn and her husband, Fred, of Waterloo, Illinois; Rebecca Hathaway Snyder and her husband, Harry of Jackson, Missouri. He delighted in coaching their baseball, softball, and basketball teams and was their number one swimming cheerleader and theatre fan. He adored his seven grandchildren: Bethany Hancock; Skyler and Hannah Shinn; R.J. and Hunter Blair; Alex and Matthew Snyder and traveled the country to visit, cheer, and support them in whatever they were doing, especially if a pool was involved. Jerry has one brother Joe Hathaway and his wife, Alice of Veedersburg, Indiana. Dr. Hathaway spent his four-decade career in education, beginning and ending in the classroom. He taught in Illinois and Indiana before transitioning into school administration and was in the superintendent’s office at Jay County, Cass County, Pike County, and Fayette County School Corporations in Indiana. He ended his career teaching for Indianapolis Public Schools and coaching girls’ softball at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. He dedicated his life to young people in these communities and he and his wife often opened their home to exchange students and young people who needed a place to live. He coached countless champion baseball, softball, and basketball youth teams, making sure that each child played every game and learned ball and life skills. He was an avid swimming fan, not only of his three daughters and five grandchildren who were all swimmers, but also of three decades of Connersville area swimmers. He took care of many less-fortunate youth who, in turn, considered “Doc” a father figure. He was a lifelong sports fan, especially of his progeny, of Purdue, and of the St. Louis Cardinals. His one wish that never came true was to be professional baseball player. Jerry was an avid Purdue fan, charter member and an active officer of the Fayette Area Purdue Club. He helped establish the Purdue Club Scholarship and the Hathaway Family Association National Scholarship. He was also a member of Western Avenue Baptist Church and developed two subdivisions and built over fifty quality homes throughout Indiana. Later in life he enjoyed traveling, a good crossword puzzle, spending time at Arby’s, and mentoring young men who worked for him. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Pastor Jeremiah Burdon of the Western Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Memorial contributions be made at the funeral home to the Fayette Area Purdue Club Scholarship Fund or the Hathaway Family Association Scholarship Fund. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.