Obituary for Irene Hazen

Ponca City Now - July 14, 2016 12:00 am

Irene Hazen

(March 27, 1931 – July 13, 2016)

Longtime Ponca City resident Irene Hazen, 85, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City.

A visitation with the family will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 17, and her funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 18, in the chapel at Trout Funeral Home & Crematory. A graveside ceremony will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, in Pordue Cemetery at Onia, AR. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Irene was born March 27, 1931, near Okemah, OK, to Cranford and Dora Wilson. The family moved to Arkansas shortly afterward and she lived there until she married Z.L. Gammill and moved to Ponca City in 1948.

Their only child, Don Gammill, was born in 1952. Her husband Z.L. died in 1958 in an automobile accident north of Fairfax while working for Industrial Welding Supply.

Irene married Robert "Bob" Hazen in 1965. He preceded her in death in 2010, several years after retiring from Conoco.

Irene became a licensed cosmetologist in the early 1960s and operated Irene's Beauty Salon for many years. During that time, she also became an avid bowler and sponsored teams that regularly competed in local, state and national events.

She became a state inspector for the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology, traveling the state and visiting hair salons and schools before retiring in 1992.

In addition to bowling, she enjoyed fishing, card parties, traveling, and her grandchildren. She was a member of and served on the Ponca City bowling board and was inducted into the local bowling hall of fame.

She is survived by her son, Don Gammill, and his wife, Becky, their son, Bryan, and his wife, Kristy, plus great-grandchildren Sydney, Anna, Caleb, and Liam, all of Edmond; stepdaughter Bobbye Reusser, and husband Jim, of Bartlesville, grandson Kevin Reusser, his wife, Kim, and their children, Kennedy and Kash, all of Ponca City; and grandson Clay Reusser of Stillwater. In addition, survivors include brother Olen Wilson and wife Elma of Timbo, AR, brother Una Wilson and wife Harriette of Mountain Home, AR, brother J.C. Wilson, of Kansas City, MO, and sisters Imogene Williams of Timbo, AR, and Florene Morrison of Mountain View, AR; and several nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, and a brother.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in her name to the charity of your choice.

Source: Trout Funeral Home