Hazel M. Stephens

Hazel M. Stephens, 94 of El Dorado, received her angel wings on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Timberlane Health & Rehab following a life of service to her family and one full of inspiration.
Born May 2, 1918 in the New London Community of Union County, she was the daughter of Tom and Amma Gatsy Coleman Hogue. Hazel learned early in life to cook, sew and help her family make ends meet. Hazel was married over 50 years to the late Rev. A. L. Stephens and fulfilled her role as a pastor's wife for 40 years by providing food, song, playing the piano or just lending an ear. She and her husband were founders of Calvary Baptist Church where she loved sharing her love for the Bible and her Lord.
She will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her kindness, her sweet tea and peas and cornbread. Anyone who came to visit always received something to eat and a hug when they arrived and a hug when they left.
Everyone who knew Hazel loved her from the moment they met her. She was tender-hearted and was as quick to cry as she was to laugh, with a smile that would light up a room.
When she was 93 she had the honor of representing South Arkansas as elder nursing home queen in the 2011 pageant in Little Rock. She was as humble and beautiful in her nineties as she was in her younger days.
To say that Hazel was a character would be an understatement. Her greatest joy was in entertaining her family and friends with stories of her life that could bring one to tears or much laughter.
Hazel leaves behind a legacy as a faithful servant to the Lord and a kind and loving wife, mother and friend. She will always be an inspiration to all and will be greatly missed.
Preceding her in death along with her parents and her husband was a daughter, Mary Ann Montgomery and a son, Gene Autrey Montgomery, a grandson, Michael G. Montgomery, and a step-son Floyd Stephens. Also preceding her in death were her sisters, Margaret Eason, Myrtle Latham, Gladys Gilmore and Clara Poole and brothers, Wilson Hogue, Clarence Hogue, Curtis Hogue and Haltom Hogue.
Survivors include grandchildren, Phena Loftin (Mike) of El Dorado and Phillip Montgomery, a step-daughter, Betty Stephens Ballard (Ballard) of Fairhope, AL, a sister Edith Moore of Smackover and four great-grandchildren, Joshua Misenheimer, Amanda Misenheimer, Nicole Montgomery, and Michael Montgomery, Jr. along with two great-great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren.
Special thanks are extended to her family of caregivers at Timberlane Health & Rehab and the nurses with Life Touch Hospice.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 7, 2013 in the chapel of Young's Funeral Directors with Rev. Buddy Burton officiating. Interment will follow in Craig Cemetery under the direction of Young's.
The family will receive friends at Young's Sunday evening from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Memorials may be made to UCAPS, 1000 Sunset Road, El Dorado or to the John R. Williamson Hospice House, 2301 Champagnolle Road, El Dorado. AR 71730.