WEST, Hazel Irene

Owens Livingston Mortuary, Show Low, Arizona Hazel Irene West June 28, 1919 - November 16, 2012 Hazel Irene West of Payson, AZ passed away in Snowflake, AZ on Nov. 16, 2012. She was born in Boone, Iowa on June 28th 1919, the oldest of seven children born to Lloyd & Florence Kern. Her family later moved to Hobbs, NM where she met and married Fred West, a marriage that would last for 61 years. Two sons were born in Hobbs, and with the youngest about one year old they relocated to Clifton, AZ where she became a telephone operator for Mountain Bell, a career that would span 29 years until her retirement in Phoenix in 1981. After her retirement, she & Fred moved to Payson to spend their remaining years. Following her husbands' passing she began to involve herself in various charities, something that she took great pride in. She participated in candlelight walks to benefit cancer research, and loved to tell people that she was the oldest person in the group. She also volunteered for 13 years at Time Out in Payson and received numerous awards for her service there. Perhaps her proudest accomplishment was making baby booties and caps for the Layette Program of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society which presented her a Certificate of Appreciation at a ceremony in San Diego in 2006. After her health began to decline she was moved to an assisted living facility in Snowflake until her passing. Hazel was preceded in death by her husband & four brothers. She is survived by her sons, Fred West (Tony) of Snowflake & Bob West (Rose) of Safford, AZ seven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, & her two sisters. Funeral services will be held at Owens Livingston Mortuary in Snowflake at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, Nov. 24, with visitation to begin one hour prior to that time at the same location, followed by burial at the R.V. 'Mike' Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake.