Obituary for Hazel Inez Deaver (West)
Weaverville, NC - Hazel West Deaver, age 81, died October 5th, 2023 surrounded by family after a long illness.
Hazel was born July 17, 1942 in Mars Hill NC. She was the youngest of three children born to Cline and Inez West. She graduated with honors from Mars Hill High School, before attending and graduating with honors from Mars Hill College.
She married Jerrell Deaver from the Forks of Ivy community on September 15, 1962. They lived in Weaverville and Asheville before moving to Bristol, Virginia in 1984. In addition to pursuing her own professional endeavors, Hazel provided integral support to Jerrell during his 35-year banking career.
Hazel began her professional career in 1962 as an Executive Secretary at American Enka Corporation. Other work experiences included State Farm Insurance, Customer Service Manager for Hadley Manufacturing, church secretary at Weaverville Baptist Church, and Office Manager for Clinch River Educational Center in Abingdon, Va.
During her lifetime Hazel was never far from music. She participated in choral opportunities in high school and was a member of the Mars Hill College touring choir. She encouraged her children in their own musical pursuits. She loved singing in her church choirs, the most recent being Mars Hill Baptist. She loved harnessing the power of music to touch others’ lives positively.
Upon retirement in 1998, Jerrell and Hazel built a home in the Forks of Ivy community, and split time between there and a small home in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Hazel loved the ocean, seafood, and spent many hours scouring the shore for unique shells.
Prior to her illness they spent increasing amounts of time enjoying the ocean. She greatly enjoyed the labor and bounty of a garden and believed in the power of a flower to make someone’s day better.
Hazel endowed her family with a love of the southern Appalachian Mountains and its culture. She added Virginia has her adopted and temporary home state in 1984 where she enthusiastically enjoyed discovering its rich history and landscape.
Hazel is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Jerrell Deaver; sons J (wife Kim) and Marc (wife Donna); grandchildren J Morgan Deaver III (St George Utah, wife Kaylyn), Caitlin Wilde (Marshall NC, husband Sam), John Henry Deaver (Hickory NC), and Laura Deaver (Weaverville NC, fiancée Gunner O’dell); brother Lane West (Spartanburg SC).
She is preceded in death by parents Cline and Inez West, sister Lola May Singleton, brother-in-law Ronnie Singleton, and sister-in-law Jesse West.
A celebration of life service will be held at Mars Hill Baptist Church at 11 am on Thursday, October 12th, followed by a receiving of friends at the church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.
Hazel was born July 17, 1942 in Mars Hill NC. She was the youngest of three children born to Cline and Inez West. She graduated with honors from Mars Hill High School, before attending and graduating with honors from Mars Hill College.
She married Jerrell Deaver from the Forks of Ivy community on September 15, 1962. They lived in Weaverville and Asheville before moving to Bristol, Virginia in 1984. In addition to pursuing her own professional endeavors, Hazel provided integral support to Jerrell during his 35-year banking career.
Hazel began her professional career in 1962 as an Executive Secretary at American Enka Corporation. Other work experiences included State Farm Insurance, Customer Service Manager for Hadley Manufacturing, church secretary at Weaverville Baptist Church, and Office Manager for Clinch River Educational Center in Abingdon, Va.
During her lifetime Hazel was never far from music. She participated in choral opportunities in high school and was a member of the Mars Hill College touring choir. She encouraged her children in their own musical pursuits. She loved singing in her church choirs, the most recent being Mars Hill Baptist. She loved harnessing the power of music to touch others’ lives positively.
Upon retirement in 1998, Jerrell and Hazel built a home in the Forks of Ivy community, and split time between there and a small home in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Hazel loved the ocean, seafood, and spent many hours scouring the shore for unique shells.
Prior to her illness they spent increasing amounts of time enjoying the ocean. She greatly enjoyed the labor and bounty of a garden and believed in the power of a flower to make someone’s day better.
Hazel endowed her family with a love of the southern Appalachian Mountains and its culture. She added Virginia has her adopted and temporary home state in 1984 where she enthusiastically enjoyed discovering its rich history and landscape.
Hazel is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Jerrell Deaver; sons J (wife Kim) and Marc (wife Donna); grandchildren J Morgan Deaver III (St George Utah, wife Kaylyn), Caitlin Wilde (Marshall NC, husband Sam), John Henry Deaver (Hickory NC), and Laura Deaver (Weaverville NC, fiancée Gunner O’dell); brother Lane West (Spartanburg SC).
She is preceded in death by parents Cline and Inez West, sister Lola May Singleton, brother-in-law Ronnie Singleton, and sister-in-law Jesse West.
A celebration of life service will be held at Mars Hill Baptist Church at 11 am on Thursday, October 12th, followed by a receiving of friends at the church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.