Hazel M. Lester

Hazel Margaret Dockwell Lester, 87, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, September 21, 2012 with her family at her side. A private viewing is scheduled for the family. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main St, Clarion, Iowa. Services will be conducted by Pastor Don Morrison. Interment will follow in the Clarion Evergreen Cemetery as she is laid to rest next to her late husband. Born July 10, 1925 in Freeborn County, Minnesota, she was the daughter of the late George and Marie Dockwell. As a toddler she moved with her family to the Coulter, Iowa area and spent her youth on the family farm. After high school graduation from Rowan High School, she married Kenny Lester in 1943 and became a homemaker and devoted mother. She and her husband farmed for several years; later she became a store manager for the former Gibson and Pamida companies working for them for many years. Hazel and her family lived in the Clarion and Belmond, Iowa area. She moved to Colorado in 2004 to be near three of her children and their families. Her life revolved around her children and family, their activities, and the love she had for each of them. Hazel played high school basketball and developed a lifelong love of sports whether she was watching her children or grandchildren or watching a Rockies or Broncos game. She loved being around friends and family, playing cards, listening to country music, flower gardening, baking, eating out, and putting puzzles together. She spent a number of years researching and cataloging the genealogy of four branches of her family. The histories she gathered and the books she compiled are a welcome source of family information. She also enjoyed the people and the activities at her senior living complex in Ft. Collins. A lady of grace and quiet resolve, Mom will be greatly missed by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth F. Lester; her daughter, Dixie Pavelka; son-in-law, Mark Tarvin; brother, Raymond Dockwell; sisters, Velma Thompson and Kelly Jensen; brothers-in-law Merle Gunderson, Clell Thompson, Russell Jensen, Andy Andershok, Glenn and Andy Lester; sisters-in-law Mary Lou Dockwell, Bertha Dockwell, Inez Dockwell; and friend Harry Hinkley. Surviving are her children, Linda David Bruening, of North Carolina; Gary Lester, of Colorado; Renae Michael Duffey of Arizona; Debra Tarvin of Colorado; and Kent Sandy Lester of Colorado; grandchildren, Todd Amy Lester Sheller of California; Jason Kristy Pavelka of Iowa; Nathan Pavelka of California; Tracy Flannigan of Arizona; Kelly Branch Norris of Colorado; Eric Tarvin, Ashly Lester, Carly Lester of Colorado; and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers, Lyle Joan Dockwell, of Coulter, IA; George Dona Dockwell of Belmond, IA; sisters, Myrtle Gunderson of Belmond, IA; Gladys Andershok, of Ft. Collins, CO; sisters and brother-in-law, Beverly Eldred Schutt of Clarion, IA; Pauline Lester, of Ventura, IA; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Michelle, Kelsie and Mary, her hospice care givers and all those who lent their support and prayers. Memorial donations may be made to Pathways Hospice Center, 305 Carpenter Road, Ft. Collins, CO 80525, or to your local hospice organization or to your local Relay for Life cancer organization. Bohlender Funeral Chapel of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and Ewing Funeral Home of Clarion, Iowa, are assisting the family.

Tributes

Hazel M. Lester

September 24, 2012 - September 24, 2012