Smith, Hazel (Jordan) Obituary

Smith, Hazel (Jordan) attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Smith, Hazel (jordan).

Graduation Year	Class of 1942
Date of Passing	Jan 28, 2018
About	Hazel Smith was born in Sonora CA to Ruth Gillis Jordan and Harry Jordan on June 7th, 1925 and passed away in Sacramento on January 12, 2018, at age 92, from Parkinson's Disease. She was predeceased by "the love of her life", husband, Stanley P. Smith, on July 31, 2015. They had nine children: Gary (deceased 8/4/15), Toni, Michael (Kathy Shurtleff), Rocky (Debbie Yamamoto), Christopher (Barb), Keith (deceased 1955), Kevin (Thuy Pham), Kelly (Diana Fox) and Jeffrey (Barbara Harry). She is also survived by her beloved brother, Harry Jordan (Yerington NV); sister-in-law, Joan Snow (Monroe WA); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her siblings, Dorothy, Bob, and Edna.; and daughter-in-law, Divi (Kevin). Hazel took up journalism in high school and enjoyed being the editor and writing for the Elk Grove High School newspaper, writing for the UCLA newspaper, and later for the Elk Grove Citizen. Hazel graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1942 and went on to study journalism at Sacramento Junior College and UCLA. She met Stan at the Hollywood Roller Bowl in February 1946 when he was mustering out of the Navy after serving in World War II. She left UCLA after her junior year to marry Stan. They were married in Seattle on July 28, 1946 and spent 69 years being totally devoted to each other. She returned to college and graduated from Sacramento State in 1977. Hazel loved plays, books, movies, playing cards, especially bridge, and traveling to all 50 states, and a few countries, but most of all, Hazel loved Stan. Hazel was a student of Mark Twain and his literature, as she was very proud of the fact that Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens had been very close friends with her great grandfather, Bill Gillis and his brothers Steve and Jim, and had written the "Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" at the Gillis cabin in Tuttletown CA. She was president of the Sierra Enterprise PTA in the 60's. Hazel and Stan volunteered as ushers with Music Circus in the 70's and 90's, and later were judges of Community Theatre plays for SARTA. In 1992 Hazel was honored by the Elk Grove School District for her volunteer work. In 1987 they joined the ESPN senior golf tour as "utility" workers until 2002. This was their "second family". Working for ESPN provided them the opportunity to travel throughout the U.S., sightseeing and attending local plays and performances. Hazel will be interred with Stan, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon CA. There will be a short ceremony on Monday February 12th at 11:00 at the cemetery. The family is planning a Celebration of Life for later in the Spring. For further information e-mail kasstuff@comcast.net. - Information from the Sacramento Bee