Gallatin, TN -- Heather Ruth (Hatch) McLaughlin, 41, formerly of South Ryegate, VT, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, October 10, 2016, after a long courageous battle with Leukemia.

She was born April 8, 1975, a daughter of Ruth Ann (Eastman) and Dean Delavan Hatch.  Heather graduated from Blue Mountain Union School, Wells River, VT, and attended Plymouth State College.  She was a very active student in school being student council President and involved in the year book, FBLA, French Club and SADD, which took her on to be a retail manager at Planet Hollywood, NASCAR Café, and Rainforest Cafe, in Nashville, TN.  It was there that she met and married the love of her life Brian McLaughlin in October 2003.  Her greatest accomplishments were the birth of her two sons Jacob, age 13 and Joshua, age 9.

Heather loved cooking and had a natural artistic ability to design flowers and draw.  She enjoyed "wheeling 'n dealing" antiques which she got from her Dad.  She could buy something for very little and turn it into a good profit.  As a child she picked up the nickname "Fred" that has stuck with her.  She had a big heart and compassion for others.

Heather is survived by her husband Brian C. McLaughlin, and sons, Jacob and Joshua of Gallatin, TN, her mother Ruth Ann Hatch, sister Karen Hatch and companion Chris Rathburn, all of South Ryegate, VT, sister Dawn Blanchard and husband Douglas, their daughter Emily Ruth of Woodsville, NH, special aunt Lois Farley and fiancé Ted Powell, and cousin Carson Farley of Antioch, TN, several other aunts, uncles, and cousins in Vermont, New Hampshire and Port Orchard, WA. Also surviving are her mother in law Linda McLaughlin, father in law Butch McLaughlin, brother in law Scott McLaughlin and wife Annette, sister in law Kristie McLaughlin and several nieces and nephews, along with her very special friend Pam and Daryl Fluent of Hendersonville, TN.

She was predeceased by her father Dean D. Hatch on October 1, 2004.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, October 19 th from 6 to 8 PM at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville.   A brief celebration and reflection of Heather's life will be at 8 PM.