Hazel E. Sowders

Hazel E. Sowders (née Thacker), 94, of Vermilion, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Mercy Regional Medical Center after a sudden illness.

Born on May 20, 1930, in Pikeville, Kentucky, Hazel made Vermilion her home for the past 50 years, following earlier years in Mansfield and Lorain.

Before dedicating herself to raising her family, Hazel worked as a Nurse’s Aide in Mansfield and Lorain. A longtime member of Lakeview Baptist Church in Vermilion, she

embraced the simple joys of life, such as reading and watching Wheel of Fortune. But above all, her heart was with her family. Hazel’s greatest fulfillment came from nurturing

and caring for her loved ones, and her selfless dedication to their well-being was the guiding force of her life.

Her memory will be cherished by her daughter, Stephanie Kelley of Vermilion; her grandson, John Kelley of Vermilion; her brother, Joe Thacker Jr. of Kentucky; and her sisters, Wanda Faye Young of Tennessee, Christine Flannery of Mansfield, Barbara Sue West of Mansfield, and Gusta Mae Puffenbaugh of Mansfield.

Hazel is now reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, William Sowders, who passed in 2023, her son, Fred Spears, her parents, Joseph and Amanda (née Runyon)

Thacker, her brothers, Calvary and Paul Don Thacker and a sister, Nell Ruth Robinson.

Private services were held in her honor. Bill and Hazel will be laid to rest together at Maple Grove Cemetery, Vermilion at a later date.

Online condolences may be www.riddlefuneralhome.com.