Hazel L. Smith

Hazel Lorene Smith, 89 of Fort Sumner died Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at her home. She was born January 7, 1921 in Hall County, TX the daughter of Silas Luther Gammill and the former Icie Carrie Pickel. Hazel and was raised in Turkey, TX. She attended a four room school house in Bridle Bit, TX where she finished school. She married Owen Smith in Fort Sumner on November 27, 1937. Hazel worked at the old Fort Sumner Hospital for Dr. Simpson for several years. She later drove a school bus for Fort Sumner Schools for 27 years. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner a member of Merry Homemakers Extension Club, Valley Quilting Club, past member of WMU, and a past board member of the Valley Community Organization. Anyone who knew Hazel knew her as a kind giving loving person. She always had something good to say about people and she always tried to help everyone she could. She loved her family above everything else in life except God. She always had a joke to tell and she gave to her community everything she had to give. She is happy now she is with her Lord and her family who has gone before her. Remember her in a loving way as she loved all of us. Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Owen Smith in 2008, four brothers Ted Gammill, Calvin Gammill, Ellis Gammill, Mark Gammill three sisters Zona Hawthorne, Freida Inglis and Louise Harrison. Survivors include a daughter Gladys Fanning and husband Charles of Roswell, NM; a son Herbert Smith and Mary of Fort Sumner; a brother Glen Gammill and a sister Ella Mae Sandefer both of Amarillo, TX. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Sunday and Monday from 1PM to 6PM at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Nathan Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include David Vansickel, George Gonzales, Ruben Lucero, Justin Ingram, Dennis Peterson, Michael Lucero and Bill Coddington. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com