A. Hazel Smith Fussell

Hazel was born on October 17, 1917 in Purvis, Mississippi and was the daughter of Lonnie and Martha Lou Ada (Cain) Smith. She graduated from High School in 1935 and later attended beauty school in New Orleans. She also completed a photography course where she learned to retouch photos.

Hazel married Raymond Anderson and they had one son. They were later divorced and in 1940, she married Dudley F. Fussell in New Orleans. They owned and operated many businesses in the Southwest such as deep sea fishing charters, photography studios and a dairy farm. They also owned a motel in Montana. They later moved to Oregon and resided in Aloha. After the passing of her husband in 1966, Hazel moved to the Gresham Area. She worked as a telephone operator for Pacific NW Bell – AT&T for 25 years retiring in 1981. She was a member of the Swinging Bells Club.

In retirement, Hazel had many hobbies. She enjoyed gardening, boating, hunting and fishing. She also enjoyed traveling and investing. She owned a beach house at Devil’s Lake that she helped build and loved spending time with her family. She was a strong, hardworking, fun person that will be dearly missed.

Hazel is survived by her son, Charles Anderson of Portland, brother, Edward “Buddy” Smith of Purvis, MS and sisters, Lenora Smith of Poplarville, MS and Monnie Andrews of Beaverton, Oregon along with granddaughters, Victoria Rhoads-Clark, Sheryl McCloud and Brenda Anderson, great grandchildren, Desiree Barber-Rolen, Katelyn McCloud, Amanda Rhoads and Kevin McCloud and her great-great granddaughter, Nora Jo Ada Rolen. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Her husband, Dudley preceded her in death in 1966, companion of 35 years, George Kronholm in 2007, brothers, Elvin Smith and Lonnie Smith and sister, Willa Mae Cook.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:00 am at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, Oregon. Visitation will be on Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm also at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at Willamette National Cemetery. Contributions may be made in memory of Hazel to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.