Hazel Marie Rawls

Hazel M. Rawls, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, July 27, 2015 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange with the Reverend K. Ray McDowell of the Orange First Church of the Nazarene officiating.

Hazel’s journey in life began March 23, 1927 in Weirgate, Texas as she was the youngest of three children born to Jesse and Ethel Fann. In 1945 she married the one and only true love of her life Uriah “Bill” Rawls and remained so until his passing in 2002. Their four children, Cathy, Gregg, David and Jane were extremely blessed to have them as loving parents as they served as their role models on being adults and parents and how to live, love and enjoy life.

Hazel was a headstrong, independent woman who took a hobby of collecting antiques and transformed it into a thriving business for over 45 years. Her ability and success cannot be overstated as she became nationally recognized for her expertise in American Glass and traveled the US extensively.

Hazel possessed a strong Christian faith and was very active in the Orange First Church of the Nazarene for many years. It is with this faith that we are comforted in knowing her passing is another blessing to meet her heavenly father.

Hazel is survived by Catherine Rawls and Paul Smith of Austin, Jane Rawls and Paula Hall of Orange and David and Kelli Rawls of Greenville, SC. She is pre-deceased by her son Gregg. In addition, Hazel is survived by her six grandchildren, Constance Tedford, Jesse Rawls, Sarah Compton, Laura Roberts, Christopher Rawls, Maxxfield Smith and seven great-grandchildren.

Burial will be at Cook-Walden Capital Park Cemetery in Austin, Texas. The Rawls family would like to offer their deep appreciation and gratitude to Angela Eia, Novella Foster, Darilyn Chester, Deborah Thompson and Donna Cragg the caregivers, for the love and attention they provided to their mother. They would also like to thank Gentiva Hospice and her primary nurse Lil Betty Dugas and caregiver Kayla Smith.