Nathan A. Hazelton

Nathan enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 18 years old. He had been raised on a farm in Maine, and he worked on a chicken farm, raising chickens. He wanted to see more of the world, so this was quite an adventure for him. He decided he wanted to learn about the guns, so he studied and eventually became a Chief Gunner’s Mate. His career in the Navy lasted 20 years. Showing his versatility and leadership, during his service he worked as a manager of a commissary store, he taught Naval Science at the University of Texas at Austin ROTC, he served in the Phillipines, VietNam, and was stationed in Key West, Florida, San Diego, California, Bainbridge, Maryland, and Honolulu, Hawaii. After retirement he served in the Fleet Reserve for a number of years.

After leaving the military, Nathan worked at several jobs; as a Storekeeper at the telephone company in Moultrie, Georgia; as a tire technician at Felix Dailey Tires in Austin; as a security officer, firearms instructor, and manager of the armored cars at Stanley Smith Security. He joined LaCoste and Romberg Gravity Meters, and finally at age 62, he worked at ZLS Corporation in Austin. He worked at ZLS and commuted between Georgetown and Austin until he was 79 years old, even though his illness had already started affecting his walking and balance. This was a job he dearly loved. He enjoyed his co-workers very much. At this job he worked on precision screws that measured gravity. Gravity meters are used to find oil over land or sea.

Nathan met Hazel Jane, his wife of 37 years, on a blind date in the late 1970’s in Austin. Jane had two teenaged daughters when they married in 1980. Nathan had two sons from a previous marriage. Nathan and Jane were avid Texas Longhorn football fans and attended all the home games as well as at least one away game each year, until Nathan’s illness prevented him from attending. He still watched the games on television. Nathan became a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Austin, where he worked hard helping to maintain the church building. Later, the family transferred to Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown. Here Nathan joined the Faith Box Ministry, whereby he made cedar boxes for the newly baptized in which to keep memorabilia from their faith journey. He also starred in several religious dramas; one, “The Easter Story,” as the Chief Priest; and several others held at St. John’s Methodist in Georgetown. When the family moved to Georgetown in 1993, he fell in love with our house in Serenada. It had a detached garage where he could store his woodworking tools and equipment. He loved making things with wood, this was his passion.

Nathan was born in West Sumner, Maine, to Elva nee Brock and Wallace Lorenzo Hazelton, on February 16, 1936. He was the youngest of four children: brothers Chester and Glenn, and sister Doris. He was pre-deceased by his parents and siblings, and a son, Nathan Ashley Hazelton, of Austin. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Jane; his son, Wallace Hazelton; daughters, Alecia Carver with husband, John and Deenie Piland with fiancé, Fred Richards. He is survived by grandson, Nathan Ashton Hazelton and wife Paula, of Beeville; granddaughter, Caitlin Heyward and husband Steve of Aransas Pass; grandsons, Michael Hixson of Georgetown and Marshall Comerford, in the US Air Force in Italy. He has three great-grandsons, Stephon Heyward, Levi Hazelton, and Phillip Brownell. He is also survived by several nephews and nieces, including Ron Hazelton and wife Joyce of Florence, Texas. He was survived by and was loved by his sisters- and brothers-in-law. The family is grateful to the caring staff at Accolade Home Care and Hospice; and to long-time physician, Dr. Michael Nacol; and to the staff at the 300 Wing of Park Place Nursing Center, Georgetown.

The family will receive guests for a time of visitation from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 1, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas. Graveside services with military honors will follow at 1:00 P.M. at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

Flowers may be sent to Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, or in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation; Christ Lutheran Church, Georgetown, Texas; Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas; or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.