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Hazel Abney Vanzant
Hazel Abney Vanzant, 93, of New Paris, Ohio, and formerly of Mount
Vernon, Kentucky, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on October
18, 2020, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Indiana with her children by
her side.
Hazel was born December 7, 1926, in Flint, Michigan to the late Ernest
T. Abney and Pearl (Laswell) Abney Gullett. She married the love of her
life, Ernest Boyd Vanzant in 1950, and together they moved to New Paris.
Hazel attended Eastern Kentucky University and finished her bachelor’s
degree at Miami University. She taught in one-room schools in Kentucky
early in her career before teaching for several years at C.R. Coblentz
Elementary in New Paris. She was a Life Member of the Ohio Retired
Teachers Association, a member of the Preble County Retired Teachers
Association, Preble County Farm Bureau, and always maintained her
church membership at New Hope Baptist Church in Johnetta, Kentucky.
Hazel treasured time with family and enjoyed many trips to visit
relatives in Kentucky. She traveled extensively, having been to all the
states except Hawaii and most of the provinces in Canada. With her
brother, she traveled all the Amtrak routes in the US and VIA Rail in
Canada from Toronto to British Columbia. She saw polar bears in Hudson
Bay, traveling by Tundra Buggy to view them. She enjoyed camping,
boating, and fishing with family and was active in the daily operations
of businesses she and her family created in the New Paris area.
Whenever possible, she was outside working in the garden, enjoying the
wildlife that frequented her bird feeders, or exploring the woods
surrounding her home.
In addition to her parents, Hazel was preceded in death by her husband,
Ernest “Boyd”; her step-father, K.C. Gullett; her son, Brent Alan
Vanzant; her five infant siblings; her sisters, Delia Prather and
Lillian Brynjegard; her daughter-in-law, Deborah Vanzant; and several
brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, with whom she was very close.
Hazel is survived by her son, Stephen (Sharon) Vanzant of New Paris;
her daughter, Joanele (Charley) Hoce of West Manchester, Ohio; her
brother, Ernest (Joyce) Abney of Titusville, Florida; her
brother-in-law, OC Vanzant of New Paris; her grandchildren, CJ (Emily)
Hoce, Shane Vanzant, and numerous step-grandchildren; her great
granddaughter, Aria Hoce, and several step great-grandchildren. She
also leaves many special nieces and nephews who were like children and
grandchildren to her.
The family of Hazel Vanzant would like to acknowledge the compassionate
care provided by staff of Vancrest in Eaton and the nurses and doctors
of Reid Hospital.
A graveside service will take place at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, October
21, 2020, at Spring Lawn Cemetery in New Paris with Rev. Eric Fee
officiating.
Due to the current pandemic, a memorial service is being planned for a
later date for those family and friends who are not comfortable
attending at this time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to L&M
Products, 1407 N. Barron Street, Eaton, Ohio 45320, or Johnetta
Cemetery’s Perpetual Care Fund.
Online condolences or Hugs-From-Home may be shared with the family by
visiting www.Tributefuneralhomes.com
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