Hazel Ford Williams

On Sunday, February 26, 2017, our beloved Mother, Hazel Williams, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior.

Hazel Ford Williams was born to John Cleveland and Lillie Lee (McDaniel) Ford in Clifton, Texas, January 27, 1920. The Ford Family moved to a new farm outside of Lueders, Texas when Hazel was about 3 years of age. She was raised on that farm until leaving for college, working on the farm as her Daddy’s “Best Little Milker” and hoeing cotton.

Hazel had two older sisters, Thelma and Nadine and two younger brothers, Charlie and Jesse. A third brother, Wylie, died at five years old. Hazel followed Nadine to college at North Texas State Teachers College in Denton. After three years of college, her Father arranged a teaching job for her in a one room schoolhouse in Harmony, Texas, near Anson.

Hazel completed her teaching degree during the summers while teaching in Harmony. After Harmony, she taught at Texon, near San Angelo, Texas and worked as a sales clerk at Neiman Marcus during the summers. Following two years at Texon, she became a stewardess for Braniff Airlines. While working for Braniff, she met her future husband, Thomas Harden Williams.

Hazel married Thomas on October 16, 1944 and children came soon after, beginning with Stephen Thomas, followed by Douglas Ford, Wayne Randall, Patricia Ann and Sylvia Katherine over the next 11 years. Thomas had a 23 year career in the Air Force and Hazel taught school most of those years in addition to raising her children and maintaining the household.

Hazel continued teaching school, mostly third grade, until her retirement at age 67, in locations including Panama and Tunisia. In Sousse, Tunisia, her class was consisted of 1st - 7th grade students, as well as her two daughters, Pat and Kathy. She completed her career teaching third grade for 20 years at South Knoll Elementary School in College Station, Texas. In her retirement, Hazel was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority and as a Sunshine hospital volunteer at the College Station Medical Center. Hazel became a member of the First Baptist Church of College Station in the 1950s. She completed the full seven years of Bible Study Fellowship.
Hazel’s commitment to home and family was highlighted by family gatherings, meals and family work projects. She was an excellent cook and always set a bountiful table. Hazel made the most of holidays by gathering family and friends in her home. Her passion for gardening was rooted in her childhood on the family farm. She planted and maintained extensive grounds at her five acre home on Turkey Creek Road. Hazel actively mowed, planted and weeded the grounds at her home through age 85.

Hazel enjoyed an extended happy life with devoted care by her private caregivers led by Mary Rodriguez for over nine years and Hospice Brazos Valley at the end.

Hazel has now joined her parents and siblings in Heaven:

Parents: John Cleveland and Lillie Lee (McDaniel) Ford

Siblings: Thelma Dillard; Nadine Martin; Charlie Ford; Wylie Ford; Jessie Ford

Hazel’s legacy is carried on in this life by her children and grandchildren:

Children: Stephen Thomas & Sandy Williams of College Station, TX; Douglas Ford Williams of Albany, NY; Wayne Randall & Christine Williams of College Station, TX; Patricia Ann Williams & Jerry Kirchmeier of Bryan, TX; Sylvia Katherine & Robert Bunch of The Woodlands, TX

Grandchildren: Tanya & Scott Vesecky of Hillsboro, OR; Charlotte & Stevan Wilsan of Round Rock, TX; Eric & Gina Williams of Carrollton, TX; Christina Williams of Cypress, TX; Kevin Williams of College Station, TX; Andrew Williams of Lewisville, TX; Jesse & Tamie Kirchmeier of Washington, DC; Julie & Tracey Gegelman of Bismarck, ND; Jason & Ann Kirchmeier of Mandan, ND; David Bunch of Round Rock, TX; Lauren Bunch of The Woodlands, TX

Great Grandchildren: Greg , Samantha and Matthew Vesecky of Hillsboro, OR; Ethan and Hannah Wilsan of Round Rock, TX; Aiden Williams of Carrollton, TX; TJ Smith of Carrollton, TX

A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday, March 3, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Tankersley Funeral Home in Stamford, TX. A Memorial Service celebrating Hazel’s life will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 @ 10:30 am at the Avoca Baptist Church in Avoca, TX with Reverend Les Mims officiating. Burial will follow at the Spring Creek Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome and donations may be made in her name to Hospice Brazos Valley and the Avoca Baptist Church.