Hazel Daffern

Hazel Marie Daffern, one of three children of Thomas Earl and Mittie Gertrude (Clark) Willis, was born at DeAnn, AR on September 6, 1910. At the age of 12, Hazel was baptized at the White Oak Grove Baptist Church near DeAnn. Her ancestors had founded the church many years earlier. She attended school at DeAnn where in 1928, she was selected to represent Garland Township as the Maid-of-Honor at the Hempstead County Watermelon festival. Out of necessity, Hazel learned to do farm .labor to support her mother, brother, and sister. She followed the horse-drawn plow in the cotton fields for cash income. She raised corn to feed the horses and cane for the sorgum. Hazel graduated from DeAnn High School in 1929.

In 1930, Hazel and Dewey Mitchell Daffern were married at DeAnn, AR. They established their first home at Wheaton, MO. Hazel was a homemaker caring for the needs of their growing family. Their marriage was blessed with eight children Myrtie, Merl, Vernie, E-Vona, Barbara, Charles, Douglas, and Gary. They moved several times so that Dewey could follow the availability of his work. In 1936, they moved to DeQueen, AR and in 1938 to Wiley, CO. From 1949 through 1961 they lived at Lamar, CO. In 1962, they moved to Independence, KS and moved back to Lamar, CO in 1976. Her special interest and hobbies include sewing, custom quilt making, and baking. The neighborhood children would smell the aroma of fresh baked goods and stop by to visit Hazel and sample her baking. She often gave free haircuts to friends and created custom sewn fashions for them to wear.

Hazel lived at Lamar until January of 1999 when she moved to Henderson, IA to live with her daughter Barbara's family. Hazel died at the Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA on November 3, 2003, having attained the age of 93 years, 1 month, and 27 days. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother Clarence Willis; daughter Merl Cook and her husband Mel; son-in-law Gene Gourley; and granddaughter Carrie Renee Daffern.

Hazel is survived by her children Myrtie Gourley of Belton, MO, Vernie Joe Daffern and his wife Judy of Ellenwood, KS, E-Vona Thrall and her husband Carl of Felt, OK; Barbara Smith and her husband Mel of Henderson, lA, Charles Daffern and his wife Wilma of Colorado Springs, CO, Douglas Daffern and his wife Ilene of Boise City, OK, and Gary Daffern and his wife Jeannie of Hooker, OK; 26 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; sister Hilda Krueger and her husband Leonard of Greeley, CO; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.