Hazel Marie Barber

Hazel Marie Barber, 91, of Blair, Oklahoma, passed away Wednesday afternoon, April 8, 2015, at Corn Heritage Village in Corn, Oklahoma. Hazel was born in Madill, Oklahoma, on October 7, 1923, to Jessie and Henry Scott Akin. They moved to Walters, Oklahoma, when she was a young child. She married Ray Barber on November 18, 1941. They were married only two months when Ray was drafted into the Army. He served four years during World War II, serving time in Germany. She always said it was like meeting each other all over again after being separated for four years at such a young age. They moved to De Leon, Texas, and worked at Ray's parents' gas station and grocery. They moved back to Walters and then later to Lawton, Oklahoma, where they ran a small gas station and grocery. They moved to their home on Andrews Street and lived there in the same house for over 50 years. She loved to go fishing with her two best friends, Hazel Lee, and Jean Martin, and enjoyed going to garage sales. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of her life. She made baby quilts for each one as they came along as long as she was able. When Ray died in 2000 she moved next door to her daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Jim Willis, in Blair, Oklahoma. She lived there until the ice storm in 2009 when she moved in with Paula and Jim. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie and Henry Scott Akin; husband, Ray Barber; son, Fred Barber; sisters, Pauline Ellis, Lee Reed, Bobbie Manuel, and Effie Smith; brothers, Henry Akin, and Homer McCollum; granddaughter, Pamela Barber; and grandson, Kendell Barber. She is survived by her daughter, Paula Willis and husband Jim of Blair, OK; two grandsons, Todd Willis and wife Danielle of Blair, OK, and Dr. Chad Willis and wife Brett of Oklahoma City, OK; 2 granddaughters, Suzanne Waites and husband Matt of Blair, OK, and Carol Harris and husband Cody of Chickasha, OK; and 10 great grandchildren. Graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, at the Walters Cemetery, with Brantley Tillery conducting the service. Interment will be at the Walters Cemetery under the direction of the Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home. Tributes may be made to Corn Heritage Village, P.O. Box 98, Corn, OK 73024