Gloria Rae Hazelwood

Gloria Rae (Tipton) Hazelwood, 66, died on Friday, July 10, 2015, surrounded by family members at her home in Austin, Texas. Born on February 18, 1949, in Odessa, Texas, Gloria was an extraordinary person of strong Christian faith and many talents whose engaging smile, quick wit, outgoing personality, strong sense of humor, and genuine caring for others made her beloved and popular with almost everyone.

Growing up in West Texas as the oldest daughter of Harry Tipton, an Exxon financial executive, and Carol Tipton, an accomplished grade school and private music teacher, Gloria learned how to adapt and flourish as she and her family lived in Odessa, Denver City, Andrews and Midland (Texas) before she graduated from high school. Her capabilities and experiences also served her well later in life as she lived (in several cases more than once) in Houston, Dallas, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Clemente and Austin. Throughout her lifetime of experiences, Gloria maintained deep and long lasting friendships with many of the people she met along the way.

Consistent with her life long interests in music, Gloria sang in the choir and was a gifted cellist who received an Orchestra Music Scholarship from Texas Tech University. Although she declined the scholarship to obtain a Bachelors Degree in Education, music was one of the many life long interests that Gloria cultivated and enjoyed. Along with her many interests, passions and capabilities, Gloria was a voracious reader, novelist and talented poet. She also enjoyed sports and was a loyal Dallas Cowboys and Texas Tech Red Raider fan throughout her life.

In 1970, Gloria married Mark L. Hazelwood, a Texas Tech University student and football player whose careers in law, energy and health care made life fun and rewarding for both. During their 45 years of marriage, Gloria and Mark were blessed to have three wonderful children and four extraordinary grandchildren.

As a reflection of her strength in our Lord and Savior, Gloria taught a Bible Study Fellowship class for many years with a small group of women with whom she loved and remained close over time. She also used her poetry to demonstrate how much her faith meant to her and to encourage others. Consistent with Gloria’s positive view towards life (even during her illnesses), she always went beyond what others typically would do and, in the process, made everything she touched shine.

Overall, Gloria was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend who loved and positively influenced and encouraged those around her. She also demonstrated great faith, courage, determination, and resilience in battling serious health problems during the later years of her life.

Gloria is survived by her husband (Mark), children and their spouses (Clay and Katie Hazelwood, David and Anne Hazelwood & Taryn and Dale McNeill), grandchildren (Marquel, Miles, McKenzie McNeill and William Hazelwood), father (Harry Tipton) and sisters with their spouses (Debbie and Greg Rabb and Sandy and John Blitch). She also is survived by an aunt and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and many other friends and admirers.

A memorial service (followed by a reception) will be held on Friday, July 17, 2015, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the Colonial Chapel at Cook-Walden located at 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin, Texas. A visitation will be held at the Colonial Chapel the evening before the memorial service (i.e., Thursday, July 16, 2015) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Gloria’s family recommends making a donation to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation (www.pkdcure.org / 800-753-2873) or to Hospice Austin (www.hospiceaustin.org / 512-342-4700).