Hazel Jesse Botnen Horton Vernon (91) passed away peacefully, Wednesday, September 17th, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Born on September 6th, 1923 of Fox Island, Washington, she was one of eight children born to Scandinavian homesteaders, Hans and Minnie Botnen. On December 7th, 1941, she was united in marriage to Lloyd Horton, the same day Pearl Harbor was bombed. In February, 1943, Lloyd left his young wife to serve our country in World War II. Never one to stay still, Hazel answered the call of duty of women on the home-front and went to work driving truck for Grand Union Tea Company in Iowa during the war.
After the war, her growing family was stationed in Alaska, Texas, California and finally Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington, where the they would finish raising all seven children (5 girls and 2 boys). Family was always at the center of Hazel's life. When asked about the challenges of raising seven children, she would respond by saying, "it was fun!" After Lloyd retired from the Air Force, he and Hazel decided to take on the challenge of running a bowling alley. They opened the Bagdad Bowl in Airway Height, WA. It wasn't long before Hazel had started a women's bowling league, called "The Harem". She also established an immediate following cooking and selling her delicious pies. Hazel also achieved one of her life long dreams by having an in-ground pool put in at the family home in Air Way Heights. She was so proud of the pool and loved to have people over to swim. She opened the pool to family and friends, and was always up for a swim party.
Although saddened by the sudden passing of her husband, at the age of 54, Hazel decided that she was not going to allow the implications of widowhood to be an obstacle. Always a strong and determined woman, she went to work for Foss Tug Boats as a ship's head cook. Her famous pies and sourdough hotcakes won the hearts and stomachs of many a hungry sailor. She loved being at sea and spoke fondly of the adventures had on her travels. Eventually, she used her tug boat bounty to design and build her own home in Gig Harbor, WA modeled after her childhood home on Fox Island. Affectionately referred to as "the farm", she would go on to share her home with her children and grandchildren every summer, where fun would be had picking black berries, raising rabbits and chickens, salting slugs, hiking, making forts, and swimming in the ice cold Puget Sound.
Hazel Botnen Horton Vernon is survived by her children and spouses; Claudia (Larry) Scharff, Airway Heights, WA, Penny (Edward) Larsen, Spokane Valley, WA, Sharron (George) Harris, Glencoe, OK, Lloyd (Patricia) Horton, Kent, WA, Gail (John) Palumbo, Spokane, WA, Larry Horton, Airway Heights, WA and Lucy (Timothy) Monte Calvo, Spokane, WA; 17 loving grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Herman (Barbara) Botnen, Fox Island, WA and Melvin Botnen, Greenfield, MA.
A memorial service to honor Hazel Botnen Horton Vernon will be held for family and friends at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 27th at the Fox Island Chapel on Echo Bay. Hazel will be interred at the Fox Island Cemetery next to her loving husband, Lloyd, and baby daughter Rita Jean.