Philip David Hatfield

Philip David Hatfield, 86, of Ottawa, Kansas passed away on the evening of December 24,

2023, surrounded by his wife, three children and family members at his home in rural Ottawa.

He was an extraordinary and loving husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed.

Our lives are forever changed for the better by having him in our life.

Philip was born December 6, 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri to his parents James R. and Neva

(Meredith) Hatfield of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

On August 2, 1969, he was united in marriage to Nancy Ransom in the Westminster

Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Kansas. They spent the next 54 years side by side in marriage

and Nancy survives of the home in Ottawa.

Philip was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son Scott Hatfield (Melissa) of Williamsburg, Kansas;

daughter Sarah Haddock (Russell) of Arvada, Colorado; and daughter Stephanie Jacques

(Barry) of Wamego, Kansas; ten grandchildren Ashlyn Diamond (Robert); Allison Haddock;

Ethan Hatfield; Nicholas Hatfield; Anna Claire Haddock; Bryce Hatfield; Cadence Jacques;

Harper Jacques; and Weston Jacques. He also is survived by his brother-in-law Willard Ransom

(Diane) and sister-in-law Midge Ransom Peede (Francis); nieces and nephews and

great-nieces and nephews.

Philip grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University where he was

a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity from 1956 to 1959. Philip left OSU to serve in the

United States Army until 1966 where he spent a majority of his time stationed in Germany. Upon

his honorable discharge, he enrolled at Kansas Wesleyan from 1966 to 1968 and then onto

Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Here he found two of his greatest loves in life,

landscape architecture and his wife, Nancy.

After their marriage in 1969, Philip and Nancy established their home in Overland Park, Kansas,

where Philip built a career as a landscape architect and established Hatfield & Associates

Landscape Architecture. Phillip’s love for plants and architecture, particularly the Prairie Style

pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright, brought beauty and joy into the lives of his clients over the

course of his career. In 1974, Philip was honored by the American Association of Nurserymen

Landscape Award Certificate of Merit for contributing to the quality of the nation’s environment

at a White House ceremony hosted by First Lady Pat Nixon. He could spend hours in a nursery

or landscape supply store and consulted on projects even after his official retirement.

Philip’s childhood love of the Colorado mountains and particularly the fly-fishing streams was

shared from the start of his life with Nancy and their children. It was a place where he was most

at peace with life and nature. All but one family vacation throughout the years had traversed

through Colorado to cast a line, especially in the Crystal River area.

While his love for fly fishing, architecture, Nancy and his children was great, that love was

completely eclipsed by the love for his grandchildren. In 1999, his first granddaughter was born

and he took on the official name of Granddad. This was perhaps one of his greatest joys in life

and he undertook his role of spoiling his grandchildren seriously. In 2002, he and Nancy moved

from Overland Park, Kansas to Ottawa, Kansas to be closer to family and the upcoming arrival

of more grandchildren.

The move to Ottawa allowed him to fulfill the role of Granddad even more where he successfully

introduced the consumption of popsicles, Twinkies, and black cookies (Oreos) along with trips to

the ‘cow store’ (aka Sirloin Stockade), and sharing his love for plants, nature and life.

Philip enjoyed assisting with the farm and caring for his cows. His uncanny ability to build and fix

things had Philip embarking on new projects. His time in his building would result in an item not

only being fixed but often fixed better than it was originally built. He always knew what the right

tool was and if he did not already have that tool, he knew where one could be bought. He

imparted this knowledge with his children and grandchildren creating a passion for tackling

tough and challenging jobs, no matter the situation or application.

However, it is the twinkle in his eyes with the side smile of orneriness when you know he is

about to share something amazing and loving which will be missed the most. The lives of his

family have been forever changed with his passing. However, the impression he has made on

them will continue to live forever through the lives he impacted.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Good Shepherd Hospice c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.