Mrs. Hazel Garrison Thomason, age 95, of Hanover, Indiana formerly of Wayne City, Illinois entered this life on June 8, 1923 in Wayne City, Illinois. She was the loving daughter of the late Leo and Mary Ray Garrison. She resided nearly all of her life in Wayne City and attended school there. On March 22, 1940 she was united in marriage to Sessel “Dempsey” Thomason in Henderson, Kentucky. This happy union of 44 years was blessed with a daughter, Linda and a son, Richard. Hazel was a farmer’s wife, who helped with all aspects of the farm, from driving the work trucks, tractors and grain elevators. Hazel also raised a large garden and enjoyed sharing her harvest with others. She was an 80 year member of the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church in rural Wayne County and had held membership in the Eastern Star. She loved to write poetry and was an excellent cook. Hazel loved to sew, writing recipes and collecting them. Her cookbook that she wrote titled, “The Granny that Cooks” sold over 1800 copies. After her husband’s death in 1984 she started taking bus trips throughout the United States. She and her daughter, Linda, expanded their travels to include traveling to 20 countries together. She really enjoyed receiving the gifts of cookbooks from her foreign friends. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and friend. Hazel was lovingly referred to as “Granny T” by her family and close friends. She moved to Hanover to be near her daughter in 2012 and enjoyed meeting all of Linda’s friends. Hazel died on Monday, August 6, 2018, at 4:50 p.m. at the River Terrace Health Campus in Madison, Indiana surrounded by her loving family.
Hazel will be missed by her loving daughter, Linda Wood and her husband Ken of Hanover, Indiana; her loving son, Richard Thomason and his wife, Debbie of Collinsville, Illinois; her loving grandchildren, Jeff Thomason and his wife, Beth of Troy, Illinois, Andrea Hash and her husband, Rob of Mooresville, Indiana, and Cindi Woods and her husband, Buddy of Franklin, Indiana; her adoring great grandchildren, Lauren Hash of Mooresville, Alex Hash of Yangzhou, China, and Evan Woods of Franklin; and her fourth great grandchild, Stella Thomason is expected in October 2018; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her father, Leo Garrison, her mother, Mary Ray Garrison, her beloved husband of 44 years, Sessel “Dempsey” Thomason, died August 24, 1984, her brother, Clyde Garrison, and her sisters, Muriel Wilkinson, Nola Austin Foster, and Beulah “Boo” Rost.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, August 11, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., by Bro. Richard McCormick at the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church, 154 County Road, 815 East near Wayne City, Illinois 62895. Interment will follow in the Baltimore Cemetery (Olive Branch) near Wayne City, Illinois.
Friends may visit Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana and Friday from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church near Wayne City and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Olive Branch Church or the Kent Baptist Church. Cards are available at the funeral home and the church. Online condolences, www.morgan-nay.com