Hazel Irene Roberts Spady was born in Maxey Colorado on June 19, 1920 and was the oldest of five children born to Roy Alva and Zora Viola Robbins Roberts. Hazel was preceded in death by her husband Elk of 58 years, her parents, her only brother Melvin Clyde (Bub), sister Mildred (who died in infancy), and her sister Mary Evelyn (S) Blackburn. Hazel is survived by her sister Kitty Ann Long, sister-in-law Edna Boudrie, her five children Bonnie (Dwight) Lessenden, Barbara Wroblewski, Donald Spady, Roger (Vernie) Spady, and Rick (Carole) Spady and grandkids and great grandkids.


Hazels family moved to the Las Animas area when she was a child and lived in several different places around town. At one point they lived in the Jungle Town outside of Ft. Lyon where Hazels father worked with the hogs on the West farm until he was hurt. After that, Hazels father farmed several areas in and around Las Animas that included the Rixey and Horse Creek areas.


Hazel attended grade school at Rixey School where she graduated from the 8th grade. She then went on to graduate from Las Animas High School where she took business classes and got her first job working at the City Pharmacy for her D.E. class. After high school, Hazel attended a Business School in Pueblo, Colorado. While she was in Pueblo she worked as a telephone operator and also as a secretary for a lawyer.


Hazel met Elk Spady at a carnival and they married in 1942. Over the next 16 years they had five children: Bonnie Annette, Barbara Jo (Bobbie), Donald Lee (Don), Roger Elk, and last but not least Richard Dean (Rick).


Hazel was a housewife until all five kids were in school. Being a housewife to Hazel included cooking meals for branding crews, harvest crews, and any other crew that showed up to work in what everyone thought was the back of beyond. Hazel always called this Gods Country. Hazel wrote in her 50th class reunion booklet that her favorite time of the year was during branding season.


Hazel told stories of her life long love of reading and about climbing as high as she dared in the big cottonwood trees to hide and read so she wouldnt be found. She also told about being the oldest and having to stay home with Grandma Robbins as grandma wasnt able to go with the family. Hazel also told stories of always having extra company on the weekends from Virgil, Lane, Jesse, Maxine, Mutt, and many others; and loving every minute of it.


During her life, Hazel raised chickens, had a huge garden, and canned anything she could get her hands on, but the one thing she couldnt get her hands around was milking that milk cow. Hazel and Elk sold eggs and cream every week in exchange for chicken feed. The chicken feed came in patterned sacks in which Hazel used to make dresses for her two daughters and shirts for her three boys.



Hazels love for cooking came in handy when she took her first job after she was married as the cook at the Haswell School. Many of the students said that when they went on to High School that the food Sure wasnt Hazels cooking. Hazel always said the best part of the job was the kids. She also threatened them with split pea soup for a week if they didnt win their basketball games.


After leaving the school, Hazel opened the Haswell Caf. Bonnies husband, Dwight, has always maintained that he would never run a cafe because after you close at the end of the night you still have 2 or 3 more hours of work to do. Hazel later bought and ran the Haswell Market, and was the landlord for her future daughter in law Carole (wife of Rick). All of her grandkids remember the weekly Friday trips to Lamar to get groceries. Hazels grandkids were amazed at how much food she could get into the car and still be able to fit them as well. Some of Hazels help and grandkids still remember making dagwood sandwiches for railroad workers, Centennial bikers, and truck drivers that stopped by the store. Hazel kept several journals over the years where she had acquired different signatures of bikers from all over the world. One of the most dreaded days of the years for the grandchildren was New Years Day where most of them will tell you the horror stories of having to do inventory.


Hazel always enjoyed her 13 grand children which included Bonnie's three - Travis and Tearle Lessenden, Celena Clark; Bobbie's three - Joe, Cari, and Linda Wroblewski; Don's two - Heath and Lonnie Spady; Roger's three - Reese, Chad, and Mandy Spady; and Rick's two - Milly and Tara Spady. The list of grandchildren grew to 19 after some of Hazels grandkids got married. Her family continued to grow as she also had 10 great grandchildren with two more expected in the next 6 months. Hazel loved kids and was a friend to any child that came her way.


As we look back on Hazels life, many would say it was a hard one but she handled it with such grace and ease and wouldnt have changed a thing. Hazel was able to stay in the family home for two years after Elk passed on. She entered the Weisbrod Nursing Home after suffering from a fall and was unable to continue to stay at home by herself. While at the Weisbrod Nursing Home, Hazel made many new friends who enjoyed her dry sense of humor and always knew she would speak her mind whether you liked it or not. They also learned that her bark was worse than her bite. Even though she spent 6 years at Weisbrod, quite often Hazel would still ask to go home.


Hazel Irene Spady left this world on the morning of September 4, 2008 at the Weisbrod Nursing Home.


Funeral services were held on Monday, September 8, 2008 at the Haswell Community Building in Haswell, CO with Pastor Ian Blacker of the Lamar Christian Church officiating. Bob Seay played the piano with Doris Lessenden serving as the vocalist. At the conclusion of the service, Larry Bohrer played a special selection on his guitar as the family was leaving. Serving as casketbearers were: Heath Spady, Lonnie Spady, Reece Spady, Chad Spady, Joe Wroblewski, Travis Lessenden, Tearle Lessenden and Eli Clark. Honorary casketbearers were: Cari Wroblewski, Linda Wroblewski, Celena Clark, Mandy Spady, Sara Lessenden, Charity Spady, Beth Spady, Lucrecia Spady, Milly Spady, Tara Spady and Amy Spady. Final committal services were held at the Haswell Cemetery. Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guest book at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com. Visitation and funeral services were entrusted to the care of the Brown Funeral Home in Eads, CO.


Memorial contributions can be made to any of the following organizations: Weisbrod Nursing Home Auxiliary, Kiowa County Home Health or West End Senior Citizens in Haswell.