HAZEL E. SMYSER

Mrs. Hazel E. Smyser, 87, of rural Lewistown, Mo., died March 30, 2018 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Ill., surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born September 6, 1930 near Durham, Mo., a daughter of Steven James and Goldie Mae Wheeler Abell. She married Elmo R. Smyser and later married Roy R. Smyer on December 15, 1973 in Maywood, Mo. He passed away on August 13, 2015.

Family was the most important thing to Hazel and she enjoyed spending time with them. She was an avid member of Mission Hill Baptist Church in Palmyra and volunteered at WTJR Radio Station in Quincy from 1986 until 2000. She enjoyed camping, going to gospel singings, and attending the Ridge Runner Jamboree. Hazel worked at Motorola in Quincy, IL for over 28 years, owned the COOP restaurant, Hazel’s Café and then the Highland Café. After working in the restaurant business for a number of years she went to work at the Lewis County Water District in Ewing, retiring in 2016

Survivors include one daughter Teena (David) Sparks of Ewing, Mo; grandchildren, Chad (Donna) Wright of Bakersfield, CA, Jeremy (Jennifer) Wright of Palmyra, Mo; Scott (Tamara) Toliver of Durham, Mo; Autumn (Ryan) Stone of Steffenville, Mo; Ethan Wright of Ewing, Mo; Dillon (Alexis) Sparks of Lewistown, Mo; Bailee (Jonathan) Lester of St. Louis, Mo; great grandchildren, Bethany, Lorena and Kimberly Wright, Gilbert, Gretchen and Rex Toliver, Blake and Brody Stone, Eli and Luke Sparks, Jonathan, Jayda and Josie Lester; sisters, Joan (Don) Powers of Durham, Marcia (John) Bock of Durham, Linda Whitaker of Durham and Trudy (Mike) Hicks of Durham; one brother, Jack (Julie) Abell of Quincy; and many nieces and nephews. Also a step son, Glenn (Erin) Smyser of Ewing, Mo; two step daughters, Virginia Ranville of Quincy, Ill.; and Lanette Burda of Center, Mo; step grandchildren, Alexis Smyser, Samantha Smyser, Reagan Smyser, Chrissi Smallman Radcliff, Dominic Ciavaro and Jonathan Burda. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Terry Wright, three brothers, Steve, Joe and Bobby Abell, one sister Betty Perrine.

Funeral services were held April 3, 2018 at Mission Hill Baptist Church in Palmyra, Mo..with Rev. Alvin Kent Lewis and Rev. Ted Middleton officiating. Music: Glen Carter and The Lester’s, Vocalist’s; Miriam Inlow, Organist. Songs: Will you walk across Heaven, Oh what a Savior, Won’t have to cross Jordan alone and Won’t have to worry anymore. Pallbearers: Jeremy Wright, Scott Toliver, Ethan Wright, Dillon Sparks, Rex Toliver, Blake Stone, Brody Stone. Honorary Pallbearers: Autumn Toliver, Bailee Lester, Gretchen Toliver, Jayda Lester, Josie Lester, Eli Sparks, Luke Sparks, Jonathan Lester, Gilbert Wright

Visitation was held April 2, 2018 at the Ball-Davis Funeral Home in Ewing, Mo.

Burial will be in Durham Cemetery in Durham, Mo

The family suggests memorials be made The Lester’s Ministry or to the Mission Hill Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.davis-fh.com