Hazel Virginia Read

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Hazel Virginia Gilley Read on March 21, 2025 at the age of 96. Hazel joined her husband, Louis and three of her four children, Phillip, Virginia (Ginny), Deborah and her grandson Brice in Heaven while holding the hand of her daughter, Phyllis.

Hazel was born on August 2, 1928, in Elkhart, Texas, to Vardy Benjamin Gilley and Ola Crawford Gilley. Hazel was a wonderful example of kindness putting the needs of others ahead of her own. She attended Slocum High School in East Texas and later earned a Nurse’s Aide Certificate. She moved to Dallas and worked at the First National Bank of Dallas. After moving to Dallas, TX, she met and married Louis Blackwell Read on January 2, 1946. They had four children. Hazel went on to volunteer for the American Red Cross and volunteered in the nurse’s office at San Jacinto Elementary school in Dallas. She was eventually hired by the Dallas Independent Public School District (DISD) as a Nurse’s Aide and lovingly devoted her career to John B. Hood Junior High School, She was also a Nurse's Aide at W.W. Samuel high school and Bryan Adams High School. After retiring from the DISD, she went on to be a Data Processor at C & H Trucking Company and later retired. Hazel is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also a member of many Veterans Organizations.

As a child, teenager and young adult, Hazel played street baseball and loved the game. She also loved the Texas Rangers and recently viewed a Spring Training Game on the television in her hospital room. A highlight has been attending a few Texas Rangers Games with her family. She played Right Field for the Ladies Softball team at Bethany Baptist Church in Dallas. She loved to bowl and played on bowling leagues at Big Town Bowl Lanes and also bowled at the Bowling Lanes on Garland Rd in Dallas. Hazel had natural athletic abilities.

Hazel was a wonderful humanitarian and educator. She grew up on a farm and one hot summer day, she took her children to her Aunt Bert and Uncle Frank’s farm in East Texas to pick cotton and strawberries. She wanted her children to know that many people work hard in the field to earn a living. Also, DISD issued State Fair tickets and a bus pass on Fair Day. Although she had her own car, she would take her children to the State Fair on the bus. She said she wanted her children to know that not all families have a second car and many depend on public transportation and she thought the experience would be good for her children and it was.

Hazel and her beloved husband of 65 years, Louis were lovers of nature and animals. Their Philanthropy was to live trap feral cats and take them to their veterinarian and have them spayed and neutered. They also enjoyed feeding and taking care of feral animals of all kinds.

Hazel and Louis Read were previous members of Bethany Baptist Church in Dallas. Hazel taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Girls in Action (GA’s). Hazel and Louis transferred their membership to Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas when they moved to Little Forest Hills.

Hazel has been a wonderful wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend and is preceded in death by her beloved husband Louis who passed away in 2011, her son Phillip, her daughter Virginia, her daughter Deborah, her grandson Brice, her parents Vardy and Ola, Her sister Opal, and her sister Doris.

Hazel is survived by her beloved daughter Phyllis, her granddaughter Kathryn and her husband David, her grandson Louis and his wife Libby, her great grandson Zachary, her great grandson Andrew, her great grandson Rowland, her brother Carl and his wife Shirley, many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Dallas SPCA. https://spca.org/