Hazel Bryan Bucklen

BUCKLEN-Hazel Bryan Bucklen, passed away January 12, 2009 in Sun City West, Arizona. Hazel was born in Lawrence County, Kentucky on November 12, l915 to Laura and Jeff Bryan. She was an exceptional woman who was dearly loved by her family and all who knew her. She married Homer Paris Bucklen in l936 in Charleston, West Virginia and they had three children. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and Richard Jones of Sun City Gra nd, Arizona and Martha (Marty) and Robert Cooksey of Lake Oswego, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Homer (Bucky) Bucklen in l999. She was NANA to four grandchildren, Jennifer Allison, Jeff Jones, Lara (Mike Hansen) Lindersmith, and Marsi (Sean) Gorman; five great-grandchildren, Caitlin and Madison Jones, Parker and Paige Allison, and Jad Bucklen Gorman. Hazel was one of seven children and is survived by her sister, Betty Bushong, brother, Tom Bryan, and many nieces and nephews who lo ved her dearly. She "loved school and either walked or rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse where she was a "whiz" at math. She had a great love of knowledge and continued to expand her mind until the end. She read the Wall Street Journal daily. Hazel and Homer moved to Pasadena, California after World War II and started a real estate company. They both had a strong work ethic and were very successful. Hazel held a Real Estate License for over 55 years. She and her second husband loved to travel and saw m ost of the world. She continued to travel until her late eighties and was on every continent except Antarctica and had sharp memories of every trip. She loved fishing from her dock and watching sunsets over Mt. Lassen from her summer home on Lake Almanor in Northern California. She was a member of the Lake Almanor Community Church. She moved to her winter home in Sun City West, Arizona in l990. She did not play golf but loved watching the players from her patio and enjoying the beautiful sunsets over the White Tank Mountains. She was a great game player, was always up for a game of cards--loved Bridge and when gambling, Craps was her game. She was a champion pool player and her pool table at Lake Almanor saw lots of action. Her large collection of dolls brought her much pleasure especially since she didn't have them as a child. Her home was always open to family and friends as she loved entertaining and having lots of loved ones around. It is hard to sum up someone's 93 years of life but suffice it to s ay we all loved her so very much and she loved each and every one of us. Her death will leave a huge void in our lives. We will miss her immensely but know that she loved life, lived a GREAT ONE and was ready to leave this life on earth to find peace and comfort from her Heavenly Father. Services and burial will be at 10:30 AM Friday, January 16 at Live Oak Memorial Park, 200 East Duarte Rd., Monrovia California. Remembrances in her name can be sent to the Bucky Bucklen Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Shasta County Board of Realty, 840 Remor, Redding, California 96002.