Hazel was born in Pensacola, Florida March 23, 1927. Due to the depression, she started working in her teen years to help support her family. She was a “Rosie Riviter” building wings for PBY aircraft at age 16. She also “hopped curbs” at Pensacola Dairy. She met her husband-to-be on a blind date. After confirming he was a Christian, she and Cpl. Leon R. Reese were married at the Pensacola Naval Air Station chapel and they enjoyed 68 years together.
After Leon’s discharge from the Marine Corps, they moved to Birmingham and soon became members of the Birmingham Gospel Tabernacle where she taught the 5 year old children’s Sunday school class for many years.
In the late 1970’s she started selling real estate, and after earning her Broker’s License, she formed Hazel Reese Realty. After she and Leon retired, they moved back to Pensacola.
Hazel was preceded in death by her father and mother, Jasper and Esther Cravey; her sisters, Norma Jean “Bobby” Phillips and Ethel L. Sanders; brother, Orlon “Buddy” Cravey; and her husband, Leon R. Reese.
She is survived by sons, Leon R. Reese, Jr. (Thelma), Ray Keith Reese (Amy); grandchildren, Leon “Lee” Reese III (Nancy), Morgan Tucker Reese and Jillian Kathryn Reese; six great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.
Services to be at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with interment at Barrancas National Cemetery.
