Marion Ruth Hazlewood

In Loving Memory of Ruth Aldredge Hazlewood May 27, 1919 ~ October 25, 2016 Ruth Aldredge Hazlewood, devoted and loving mother, grandmother, wife and teacher, went home to be with her Savior on Tuesday, October 25. She was 97 and for the past 21 months, a resident of Country Village. Visitation will be at First Baptist Angleton Thursday October 27, from 5 - 7 p.m., with funeral services at 2 p.m. Friday October 28, also at First Baptist. Graveside services will follow at Angleton Cemetery. Born Marion Ruth Aldredge on May 27, 1919 in Pollok, Texas, she was the youngest of six children of Etta and Marion George Aldredge. Ruth grew up in Lufkin, graduated from Lufkin High School in 1937 and delivered the valedictory speech because she said "the girl who was valedictorian was too shy and everyone knew I liked to talk." She graduated from the College of Marshall (now East Texas Baptist University) in 1939, where she was honored as Harvest Festival Queen; and from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1941. An accomplished singer, her musical talents were influential in her getting her first teaching job at Vidor Elementary, from 1941 - 1943. She admitted that she got the position because "I told a School Board member that I would be willing to lead the choir at Memorial Baptist Church." In 1943 she returned to Lufkin to teach a year at Lufkin Junior High and then served as director of the Angelina County Red Cross from 1944 - 1945. Always self-effacing, she said that when she was in college she had dreams of being a professional singer, but "a friend wisely cautioned me that perhaps I should take some education courses, just in case…" It was during her time in Vidor that she first met W. T. "Woody" Hazlewood. He proposed during leave from the Army and they were married October 21, 1945. After residing in Clute, Beaumont and Kingsville, the couple moved to Angleton in 1951 when Woody began working for Dow and joined First Baptist Church. Woody died in January, 2015. The couple bought their first Angleton house on Farrer Street and later purchased acreage on Buchta Road where they built a home in 1974 and lived until 2015. The couple had four children who survive them: Judy and her husband, Jim, who live in Katy; Steve, a resident of Angleton with his wife, Susan; Joe, who resides in San Antonio with his wife, Terri; and Andy, a resident of Nacogdoches, Texas; grandchildren Anna Myrick, Jessica Whitehead, Jonathan Hazlewood, Katie Hazlewood, Sam Hazlewood, Michael Felder, Deborah Moore and great-grandchildren Taylor Daspit, Hollyn Myrick, William Myrick, Brandon Felder, Sarah DeBord, Drew Moore and Wesley Moore. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, brother, Wayland, and sisters Flora, Gazelle, Fannie and Juanita. Throughout her life, even as her health declined, Ruth maintained a loving, kind and gentle spirit. Hers was a life of joy. She delighted in conversation and was a great listener; in singing, cuddling her grandchildren and their pets, and watching old movies and Lawrence Welk. Her home was a place where everyone always felt love and encouragement in her presence, even after her eyesight and hearing had declined to the point she no longer recognized every person or understood every word they said. In May, 2015, at age 96, Ruth was honored by the Angleton Alumni Association as the oldest living public school teacher in Angleton ISD. She had taught fourth grade at Northside Elementary for 18 years before retiring in 1981. In 2001, she was honored by East Texas Baptist College with its alumni Life Enrichment Award. From teaching in public schools, the Friendship Sunday School Class at First Baptist and mission work for over 30 years, Ruth cared deeply for each one who would be her student. Many remark even today that "she was my favorite teacher" or "she always made me feel loved and valued." Pallbearers will be Jonathan Hazlewood, Samuel Hazlewood, Jonathan Myrick and Donald Whitehead. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Women's Missionary Union (WMU) of Texas at 10325 Brockwood Road, Dallas, 75238 with a designation for the Mary Hill Davis offering for Texas missions. Services lovingly fulfilled by the dedicated staff at Palms Funeral Home 2300 East Mulberry Angleton, Texas 77515 (979) 849-4343. Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Marion Ruth Hazlewood (Aldredge), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Visitation Thursday, October 27th, 2016 5:00pm - 7:00pmService Information Friday, October 28th, 2016 2:00pm