Hazel Irene (McKee) Saunders

Hazel Irene (McKee) Saunders, 95, of Raymore, was received into the House of the Lord, Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at St. Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit, MO. She was born May 23, 1920 to Milton and Jessie (Murray) McKee in her Uncle’s house, Eureka Twp., Mitchell Co., near Simpson, KS, the 3rd oldest of nine children and was raised on the prairies of Kansas. Hazel attended the common schools and graduated from Asherville (Kansas) High School in 1938 as the Valedictorian. She moved to Kansas City, MO and attended Brown Mackie College, graduating in 1940.

She worked as a stenographer and clerk in Kansas City, until her marriage July 17, 1942 to Charles Arthur Saunders in Wichita Falls, TX. She then worked for the War Department as a Clerk at the Technical School AAFTTC at Sheppard Field, TX and then as a Clerk Steno at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Salina, KS. After the War, they returned to Kansas City, MO and lived in the same house until retiring to the Lake of the Ozarks in 1975. She worked 20 years for John Hancock Life Insurance Company and retired in July 1975.

Hazel was active in the Silver Haired Legislature of Missouri for 15 years, and the American Cancer Society; President of Camden County Council on Aging and also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees receiving an Honorary National Life Membership, and the United State Coast Guard Auxiliary beginning in 1972.

Hazel and Chuck loved to bowl, but their passion was square dancing. They were members of the Missouri Federation of Square and Round Dance Clubs, The Central District, Jeans and Queens Club of Camdenton, the Ozark Lakers Square Dance Club, and the Ozark Zig Zags both of Laurie. After Chuck’s death in 2000, Hazel continued to dance until she was in her late 80’s. They were also Life members of Melrose Methodist Church in Kansas City and then the Camdenton United Methodist Church, Camdenton, MO.

In 2010, Hazel moved to O’Fallon, MO to live with her sister, Vera, and attended the Cornerstone Methodist Church there; and about two years later, moved to Raymore, MO where her daughter, Paula Gorenflo, attended to her Mother’s care, and they attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Hazel was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Charles Arthur Saunders; parents; two sisters, Opal McKee Peterson Richardson, and Bula McKee Saunders; and two brothers, Keith and Kenneth McKee. She is survived by her three children, Steven (Jacqueline) Saunders, Bruce (Sandra) Saunders, and Paula Saunders Gorenflo; ten grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great grandchild; three sisters, Edith McKee Kartsonis, Mary Ellen McKee (Lawrence) Tripp, and Vera McKee Stage; and one brother, Neal (Ina May) McKee; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 5, Mount Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO. Services 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 6, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1111 W. Foxwood Dr., Raymore, MO. Graveside services following at Mount Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO. Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, or St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.