Phyllis Pauline (Woolery) Hatfield, also known as "Polly" by family, friends and neighbors, passed away on Monday, July 24, 2006 at her home in Iberia at the age of 83. She was born in rural Iberia on February 22, 1923, a daughter of the late Benjamin Elda and Susie Frances (Thoss) Woolery. On July 6, 1942, in Sedalia, she was married to Vincent Lewis Hatfield, who survives at the home.

Polly attended Madden School through 8th grade and then began working out of the home for others when friends or neighbors needed a helping hand during illness or childbirth. She would often help her "Granny Woolery", Francis Alice Pickering (Madden) Woolery, whom she adored. Granny lived in a small house nearby that she had built and later became known as the Casey Madden place. When Polly worked away from home, she always looked forward to coming home on the weekends, especially when all of her siblings would be home. Easter was always a special time as her father made sure they had plenty of eggs to cook on that day for breakfast. When she was 19 years old, she was in Morgan County helping her older sister during childbirth when she met and married her husband of 64 years. In 1942, Vincent was drafted into the US Army as World War II was being fought. Their first child, and only son, Ernie Vincent, was born a year after her husband left for duty. He saw his son for the first time some months later before he shipped out to Europe. After World War II they set up housekeeping on a rented place near Iberia, close by the Rankin-Wright Cemetery. The next child, Phyllis Dean, was born while living there in 1947. The next year they started building their own house on 5 acres that they bought from her parents, where they have resided since on Highway EE. In 1950, they added to their family a set of twins, Linda Lue and Glenda Sue. With these additions, they began adding on to their two room home. After her marriage Pauline never worked away from home, but spent time raising her family, raising a garden, caring for animals that gave eggs, milk and meat; she also canned whatever was raised to keep her family fed for the following year. She also sewed to keep her family clothed. She felt that raising her children was the best job she could have as well as encouraging her husband while he went out to work. At times, she would babysit with neighbor's children when their mothers had to work outside the home. She accepted Christ as her Savior during a revival at the old Curry Church during her teen years. Later, with her family, she attended Pleasant Hill Christian Church nearby where she will be laid to rest in the cemetery by the church. During her lifetime, she not only was a mother and wife, but also a dear aunt to many nieces and nephews. Polly felt she lived a good life, though not always having lots of material things or good health; she had lots of love in her family. A favorite time of her life that she often spoke of with her husband was when her children were small and underfoot.

Others who survive her include: three daughters, Phyllis Dean Aldridge and husband Richard of Iberia, Linda Lue Sauter and husband Victor of Etterville and Glenda Sue Hatfield of Jefferson City; one daughter-in-law, Jeanie Hatfield of Versailles; one sister, Barbara Cummins of Holts Summit; one sister-in-law, Ruby Spearman of Iberia; 11 grandchildren, Pam, Christine, Paula, Lori, Suzi, Frank, Melinda, Susan, Mary, Patti and Raymond; 23 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Ernie Vincent Hatfield in 2003; two brothers, Kenneth and Theodore Woolery; two sisters, Thelma Goodman and Dorothy Hudson; one older infant brother; one great grandson, Michael Miller and two nephews, Paul and Steve Woolery.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, at Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. Rev. Stan Way will officiate. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Iberia.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Pleasant Hill Cemetery.