March 08, 1926 - November 22, 2021
Audrey Adeline Hazelbaker, aged 95, passed away peacefully in Lodi on November 22, 2021. She was born March 8, 1926 in Visalia, CA, to Gustav and Julia (Ashton) Walther, joining older sister Lois. She was a graduate of Visalia High School, class of 1943. Her dad was a linotype operator at the Visalia Times-Delta newspaper and she fondly remembered helping him put together the high school yearbook every year. She studied art at UC Santa Barbara and it was while roller skating in Santa Barbara that she met a young Marine just returned from active duty in WW2, Darrell ("Haze") Hazelbaker. They married in September of 1945, settling in Stockton where they started a family. Son Danny Eugene, daughter Kathleen, and daughter Jeanne Marie rounded out the family. She was a stay-at-home mom for several years thereafter, working at various jobs around Lodi with her favorite being at a wholesale nursery. She loved gardening and had quite a green thumb. She will also be remembered as a very good cook! She was always willing and able to make a wonderful meal in no time at all, which she did frequently when our Dad would call her mid-morning to tell her that he was bringing a friend home for lunch and they would really love some of her tamale pie!
Audrey was predeceased by her mother and father; sister, Lois; and husband, Darrell (2011); as well as grandson, Roger Smatsky. She is survived by son, Dan Hazelbaker (Martha) of Mtn. Home, ID; daughter, Kathy Smatsky (Al) of Lodi; and daughter, Jeanne Schneider (Scott) of Woodburn, OR; as well as 8 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.
Per her request, no service is planned. Dan and Jeanne would like to thank our sister Kathy for taking care of Mom for the last 10 years.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Hazelbaker family.