Hazel Marie Scott passed away, after a long battle with illness at the age of 81, surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren. She had just experienced a wonderful Christmas, and used the holiday as an opportunity to let everyone know how much she loved them, and how proud she was of their accomplisments. Sadly, her strength began to fade the day after the holiday, and she passed on in the early morning hours of December 27, 2019.

The early years 

      Hazel was born on August 7, 1938 in Plymouth, Indiana, to Victor Willard and Rosemary Quinn Hawkins. While she loved both her parents, she was especially close to her father, and enjoyed spending time with him. 

       Her bond with her sister Vicki was equally strong. Rarely did they go long without talking to each other, and their lives mirrored each other.

       She didn't talk about childhood much, and avoided the subject when it came up. Like many of her generation, she had to grow up early.

Family life

       Hazel married Kenneth Scott in the late 1950s, and while their union didn't last, they did have five children together: Tina (1958), Philip (1959), Mary Kathleen (1960), Susan (1961) and John (1964). Unfortunately, Mary Kathleen was born too soon and didn't survive.

Living life

       There was nothing more important to Hazel than her family.

       When her children and grandchildren were growing up, Hazel looked forward to taking them to the beach. Summers, beginning in the 1970s, were spent at the Indiana Dunes, camping overnight at the state park and enjoying Lake Michigan. Indeed, many family activities revolved around the extended family gathering together to enjoy the warm sunny weather.

       As she got older, Hazel was able to spend a lot of time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taking them roller skating or just to visit Centennial Park in Plymouth, Indiana.

Hobbies and activities

       Hazel was a tremendous baker, especially when it came to baking her holiday cookies, fudges and carmels. Almost everyone in the family has wonderful memories of helping make and deliver cookies—and also memories of a few scoldings when the cookies didn't turn out perfect. Grandchildren especially loved to come over to help ice the Halloween pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies, complete with m&ms eyes and a candycorn nose.

       A lover of animals, she enjoyed feeding wildlife, and tending to her cats. She could often be found in her kitchen staring out the window in the morning, as the birds flocked to her feeder. As she got older, she would sit in her chair, and pet the cat for hours each and every morning.

       She was an avid reader and enjoyed quiet time stitching and knitting, though she wasn't able to do as much later in life as she would have liked. Still, everyone got mittens or a scarf at some point. 

Her faith sustained her

       Though she was raised Roman Catholic, Hazel became a member of Koontz Lake Missionary Church after moving to Tyner, and enjoyed her bible study immensely—as she felt it brought her closer to God. Her brother Stan recommended the church to her at a point when she was feeling extremely low, and the community brought her great peace at a time when she truly needed it.   

A legacy of family

       She is survived by her three children, two daughters Tina Marie Burch of Walkerton, IN and Susan (Tim) Scott-Marsh of Buchanan, MI and son, John E. (Beth) Scott of Indianapolis, IN; eight grandchildren, Blake (Marji) Burch of Walkerton, Devin (Tiffany) Burch of Grovertown, and Quintin (Carrie) Burch of Teagarden, Katlyn and Kristen Gustafson of Walkerton, IN, Lee Ann (Brian) Kissinger of Walkerton, and Mackenzie and Abigail Scott of Indianapolis; two sisters Vicki M. (Gary) Maybee of Plymouth and Roseanna (Fred) Jean of Napoleon OH; two brothers Jon (Dottie) Hawkins of Plymouth, and Father Kevin Bauman of South Bend; sister-in-law Judy Marks; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.     

       Hazel was preceded in death by her parents and infant daughter Mary Kathleen Scott, son and daughter-in-law Phillip L. (Sheila) Scott and brother Stan Marks.

In closing

       It's difficult to sum up the life of someone you care about in just a few paragraphs. Our mother wasn't perfect, but she didn't claim to be. She was steady. She was dependable. The impact she had on our extended family was far reaching. Simply put, she was the rock upon which our family was built and the glue that held it all together. She was strong, tough, and tireless. She was a perfectionist and pushed us to be the best we could be—and she was honest with us when we needed to hear something difficult. She was truly the matriarch of our extended family, and her death leaves a void in all our lives. 

       She will be missed.