Hazel Laverne Reese

Hazel LaVerne (Haber) Reese, 89, passed away Sunday, October 2, 2011. She was born August 11, 1922 in Nauvoo, Illinois, and has lived in Overland Park, Kansas since 1961.

She is survived by two daughters and son-in-law, Judy and Dan Smith of Leawood, Kansas, and Linda Reese of Marco Island, Florida; five grandchildren, Bret Smith (deceased), Krista Duffy of Plantation, Florida, Darcy Smith of Olathe, Kansas, Andrew Smith of Overland Park, Kansas and Elizabeth Wray of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; five great grandchildren, Samantha Smith of Overland Park, Kansas, Nathan Smith of Overland Park, Kansas, Michael Duffy of Plantation, Florida, Sarah Duffy of Plantation, Florida and Annabelle Smith of Overland Park, Kansas; two sisters, Doris McMullen of Showlow, Arizona and Dorothy Ashley of Phoenix, Arizona; and one brother Bob Haber of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Hazel worked as a dental assistant at Veterans Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, for over 20 years. She loved Jesus and made many friends wherever she served. She became a beloved leader in her widows' S.O.S. group. She loved to travel with her friends and visited all 50 American states and many countries of the world. She was an avid gardener and blessed us all with the fruits of her labor and love. I, for one, will never again see a red geranium without thinking of Mom. Her beautiful smile and gentle nature will be forever cherished. Thank you for loving her as much as we do.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 14, 2011, at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri, immediately followed by a graveside service at Roscoe Cemetery, Roscoe, Missouri.