DENVER - Hazel A. Ford, 86, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at O'Connor Hospital.

Hazel was born on June 14, 1935, to Clarence and Ellen (Tompkins) Raeder on George Raeder Road in Grand Gorge. She was the oldest of her seven siblings, Walt, Jim (Harriet), Ruth (Junior), George, Dorothy (predeceased Carl), and Eddie (Sue).

Hazel attended school in Grand Gorge before attending school in Roxbury shortly after she started working. She began working at an early age to help support her parents and siblings, giving what she could to help her family.

On the weekends she loved attending the many frequent barn dances held in the valley before meeting her future husband, Mervin Bruce Ford. They married on June 15, 1952, and she began working on their family farm where she did many of the daily chores from mowing and haying, to feeding and milking the cows.

She discovered a passion for cooking and baking, trying out many new recipes she received from the neighbors and playing pinochle with them on the weekends.

She had a career in selling Tupperware for 43 years, hosting many successful parties and consistently meeting her goals, all while tending to her family and the farm. Hazel and Mervin spent 35 wonderful years together that were filled with happiness, joy, love and laughter. They supported each other throughout their years of marriage, raising their three wonderful daughters together and was a proud grandmother who felt blessed to be surrounded and loved by her many grandchildren.

In her later years, Hazel understood that nothing was more important than family and nothing made her smile more than spending time them. She spent many afternoons playing rummy with her family, teaching them to cook and bake, completing word search puzzles, watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, sewing, and playing bingo.

She was the beloved mother of, and is survived by her three daughters, Judy (predeceased Hillis), Sally (Gregg), and Susan; as well as brothers, Jim and Eddie; sister, Dorothy; granddaughters, Melissa (John) and Kim; great-grandchildren, Ryan, Tiffany (Johnny), Tyler, and Trent; great-great-granddaughter, Kallie; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband; parents, Clarence and Ellen; brothers, Walt and George; and sister, Ruth.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, at Miller Funeral Home in Roxbury with the funeral service to be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 1, at Miller Funeral Home, followed by graveside committal service in Vega Cemetery of Denver.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one's own choosing.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Miller Funeral Home, Roxbury.