Hazel Hense

Mrs. Hense was born Feb. 21st, 1923, in Redfield, Arkansas to Edward Johnson and Rosa Lee Hardin. Her four brothers preceded her in death, Basil, Albert, Ed, and Leroy. Her mother died shortly after Leroy's birth, her father two years later. After her father's death, Hazel and Ed were taken in by her mother's brother, Felix Hardin and his wife, Cora Mae Hense Hardin. Her beloved Ed passed away at the age of fourteen, leaving Hazel sad and lonely. Shortly after Ed's death, Cora Mae's brother, Charles William Hense took Hazel as his wife in 1935. The couple moved to a small farming community in Desha County where Charlie worked on automobiles and in the cotton fields, when he was able. They had thirteen children, Sally Irene, Ruth-a-Lee, John, Harold Edward, Alice Mae, Jenett, Danny Lee, Bonnie Jean, Caralyn Sue Sandra Sue, Timothy Edgar, Charlyne, Trudy Mae and Baby Boy Hense. Charlie was "laid-up" most of the time, therefore Hazel worked in the fields and as a domestic to land owners who provided a "shot-gun" house for the family. Life was hard but Hazel managed to "keep body and soul together", very often leaving the field to return hours after having given birth at home. Her oldest daughter, Sally, married Thomas Alvin Avey in 1955 and moved to Fort Collins. In 1958 Hazel left Charlie and moved to Fort Collins with her remaining nine children. Having never been able to attend school, Hazel learned to read and write along with her children. She was determined that they all got an education. To put them through school, she worked at the first nursing home established in Fort Collins, Atkinson Nursing Home, 1730 West Mulberry. She and her children were among the first to attend the Foothills Wesleyan Church on North Taft Hill Road. Two of her children, John and Harold, served in the Vietnam conflict. They both came home alive. After the closure of Atkinson Nursing Home, Hazel worked exclusively for Professor Walt Thomas, taking care of his home and his wife, Eula. When Eula died, Hazel bought a small place in Waycross, Ga. She spent thirteen years there, close to her son, Harold and his family. She was active in the Wesleyan church in Waycross and made many friends. When Hazel's health began to fail in 1992, she returned to Fort Collins to be near her son Timothy, daughters, Charlyne and Jenett, her two grandkids, Dee Dee and Travis Hense and their mother, Nancy. She lived in her own trailer and North College trailer park. She once again attended the Foothills Wesleyan Church where she and Pastor Dan Dension often led the congregation in spiritual "discussions". She loved her God and knew "The Good Book" from front to back only the old King James version, thank you!. During her 80 years Hazel fought poverty, lack of schooling and illness. She did not fight death. She believed in Heaven where she would be reunited with her Lord and the loved ones who had gone before: her Mom and Dad; her brothers; children Sally, Ruth, Bonnie, Alice, and Charlyne; grandchildren David, Mark and James; and her husband, Charlie. Friends who made her life better were; Charles Powell, John Horace Chambers, Fred Sansouci, John Wesley Briggs, Nana, and Eunice and Bill Bradley. Hazel has nineteen grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Hazel wanted no funeral service. In her memory, give someone you love flowers while they live...she's busy tending the Lord's garden in Heaven. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.