On October 12, 1924, a beautiful baby girl with brown hair and flashing brown eyes was born in Las Cruces, NM to Milburn and Nette Lankford. She was named Hazel Charlotte and joined her older brother Hobart and sister Mildred in the growing family. A short two years later, along came sister Faye and then her (little 6'3") brother Theodore. The young family moved quite often all over the southwest as was common for sharecroppers and farm hands. They eventually moved to Holdenville, OK, where her father found work with the CCC and she attended school with her siblings. In the early 40's the family followed Hobart to California, where he had found a job. Finding work on the farms and in the building industry, the family settled in Modesto, CA where Hazel, Faye and Ted attended school and graduated from Modesto High. All along, the family had attended worship services whenever possible and became regulars at the Church of Christ in Modesto. Hazel had by this time professed her trust in the Lord Jesus and served him faithfully for the rest of her life.

Shortly after WWII, she met a tall, handsome returning war vet by the name of Alan D. Jones. Attending a worship service, he noticed her long brown hair and decided to ask her out. They dated for several months and then decided to tie the knot on September 7, 1946 and settled in Modesto. By 1948, a daughter, Carol Ann was born and Hazel began her life-long call as mother and homemaker. In 1950 a son, Michael Alan was born and was followed by Dave Lee in 1955. Alan worked in the building trades and Hazel honed her skills as a wife and mother. She was so loving and kind that all the cousins and neighborhood kids thought of her as a second Mom. Meanwhile Alan answered a call to enter into the Ministry part-time and then eventually full time in the Church of Christ. Hazel, with her gentle spirit, loving ways and excellent cooking skills ministered right alongside Alan. She taught hundreds of children over the years in Bible classes, many of whom years later as adults, remembered the love of Jesus that she brought into their lives.

In 1966, the family moved to WA State to join in a longtime friend's business venture and to establish a local Church of Christ. The family remodeled and moved into a turn of the century log cabin located on the Conner ranch at Ruby. By 1968-69 a building was built and the Church of Christ at Locke was born. Alan continued in the ministry with Hazel by his side practicing her special blend of love and hospitality, cooking and caring for hundreds of guests for the next 60+ years. Anyone who met Hazel knew they had a friend for life and knew they were loved. Alan once said that more people were ministered to and taught the love of Christ at Hazel's dinner table than in all the sermons he preached in all his years of ministry.

Her dedication to her family was remarkable and she took the time to cultivate special relationships with her grandchildren. Several of them recall spending hours with her while she hand-crafted doll furniture, clothing, toys and accessories. Hazel lovingly crafted special birthday cards and cakes for family and friends in recent years and never lost her love of preparing a good meal for family and guests.

Hazel also loved hiking, fishing, playing cards, and candy bars and was an accomplished artist, singer, seamstress, wedding cake maker, and drywall taper. She stayed involved in the community as a member of the Women's Fire Auxiliary, helping to raise funds for the fire house and fire equipment with sales of her famous cinnamon rolls and pies. She often cooked meals at the Senior Center in Cusick and served as a First Responder for the local Fire District. She once said that "I may be 90 on the outside, but I feel 30 on the inside" and she lived her life to the full, right up until the last day.

Our sweet Hazel; mother, wife, sister, auntie, grandma, friend and good and faithful servant was called home to be with her Lord on April 1, 2019. She will be missed beyond words by all those who knew her. Perhaps it was best said by her little sister Joan who lamented that "everyone who knew Hazel lost their sweetheart today"! We all who remain look forward to that special day when we can all be together with her again.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents and siblings (named above), brothers in law JB and Lawrence, sister in law Margarette and son in law Bob. She is survived by Alan at the Ruby cabin, sister in law Joan, daughter Carol, sons Michael (LaDonna) and Dave (Sally), grandchildren Jennifer (Travis), Eric (Krista), Melissa, Summer, Dustin (Crimson), Chad (Sara) , Chris (Sarah), Shawna, Jennifer and Chris and great grandchildren Devon, Sage, Wren, Katelyn, Emily, Blaze, Saychelle, Jackson, Jaceten and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services are scheduled for 11am, Friday April 12 at Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home, 423 West Second Street, Newport, WA. Graveside service immediately following at Newport Cemetery. All are invited to a luncheon at the Usk Community Hall, located at 2442 Black Road in Usk following the graveside service.

Sherman-Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at shermancampbell.com .