Hazel Rose Talkin

Hazel was born February 24, 1938 in Kansas City, Kansas to Lundy and Norma Bowlin. She graduated from Argentine High School and soon married the love of her life, Lawrence A. Talkin in 1957. Hazel worked for many years as an Executive Assistant at AT&T. She enjoyed cooking and baking, and was very health conscious, always studying nutrition, vitamins and supplements. Whenever they could, Hazel and Lawrence would relax at their lake house in the Ozarks and enjoyed hosting large family gatherings there. She was a very spiritual person and often read scripture and journaled her thoughts. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Lawrence, and her sister, Shirley.

She is survived by three children, Cheryl, Steve (Robin), and Linda (Tim); her sister, Brenda (Rick); four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Hazel Rose, was named after her mother’s sister, born the eldest of Lundy and Norma Bowlin on February 24th. From humble beginnings, the days were meager in 1938, born during the great depression that would not end until 1939. As a small baby, Hazel was fed so many eggs she would gag as they were spooned to her lips. That was the only reliable food source at the time.

Hazel had two siblings, both sisters, Shirley and Brenda the youngest by 15 years. Hazel cared for her youngest sister during a time when their own mother was very ill and could not properly care for the baby. At a very young age she became substitute mom to Brenda.

At the young age of 19, Hazel married the man of her dreams, the same handsome fireman she had her eye on and confessed to a friend she would one day marry. This union resulted in three children.

From the perspective of her children, these are the accounts of our childhood:

Our earliest memories are from a little two-bedroom house located at 1717 Walker. The three of us slept in the same room. We remember glorious color filled Christmas trees with the “old fashioned” bubble lights and delicate tinsel. One particularly cherished gift was that of a wind-up Santa Clause. He flipped a tiny metal book with his magnetic hand while his head rose and dropped as if to read the text from the painted pictures on each page.

There were snows as deep as we were tall. Steam heat was what warmed us, by which we hung soggy wet winter garments to dry and learned quickly not to touch with our hands.

There sat an old upright piano in the dining room from which mother would play. A large table shared the space from which her sister Shirley and husband would play cards, eat snacks and laugh into the late-night.

Our family would eventually move North where we would be raised the remainder of our youth. Because the yard was very large, there was room to raise a garden. We children would help mother hoe the rows of vegetation, pick strawberries, green beans, tomatoes, gooseberries and rhubarb.

Church attendance was high priority with mom. We did not miss a service, sometimes three times per week. Private Christian school was attended at mothers’ insistence. Part of the curriculum was to memorize Bible scripture. To this day, those memorized verses have been a source of peace and guidance in our lives.

We learned by watching mothers’ charitable giving and deeds. Mother would offer car rides to the elderly woman who was too feeble to walk the hill to the church doors. She offered rides to a mentally handicapped woman and blind man so they could attend church who otherwise would have no transportation.

Mom taught Sunday school for young boys. One boy was very poor. Mother took clothing, food and Christmas gifts to he and his family that Christmas. We learned that although we didn’t have much, we should still find a way to give. Dad would joke that mother would give the shirt right off his back should someone be in need.

It wasn’t long before the three of us were grown and beginning lives of our own. Mother worked outside the home, regretting the bygone days of our youth.

At the young age of 51, mother was in a terrible care accident that caused a stroke and disability on the left side of her body. Her career ended that day. She suffered a broken back and shoulder which continued to cause immense pain throughout the remainder of her life. She was told she would never walk again. But, mother defied the odds. Slowly with rehabilitation and raw gut determination, mother learned to walk. She learned to maneuver in the kitchen using only one arm to bake and cook for the family. She did when she didn’t feel like doing, driven by her love for her family and friends.

When she and dad retired to the lake, mom would play hide and seek with the grand kids. While they hid, mother would maneuver from room to room, dragging the bad leg slightly which resulted in the haunting sound of thud, swish, thud swish mimicking the sound unintentionally of the “mummy”.

Through all the pain and suffering caused by her disability, 28 years collectively, mom persevered. She loved when it hurt. She taught us to get up and do and continue doing. A mothers' love, possibly the most power force on earth. Mom no longer suffers and for that we are grateful. We love you mom.

Fond memories and condolences for Hazel may be left at www.chapelhill-butler.com, as arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill – Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112; 913-334-3366.