HAZEL MERZ Obituary

HAZEL MAE (RICHARDS) MERZ
January 28, 1923 ~ January 23, 2013

Hazel Mae (Richards) Merz died unexpectedly of natural causes on Jan. 23, 2013, five days short of her 90th birthday. She was born to Harry and Mae Richards on Jan. 28, 1923. In her early years, she lived in the small town of McIntosh, SD, where her father ran the general store. The family was well regarded in McIntosh and they were happy there, but her father's store burned in 1935 which lead them eventually to relocate to Molalla, OR. As a young girl, she was often homesick for Dakota, especially the "deep as the roof" snow drifts in winter. After a time in Molalla, the family moved to Woodland, WA, where she entered Woodland High School, class of 1940. In her senior year she was a Planter's Days princess. She often spoke fondly of her high school days and regularly attended reunions.
Hazel Mae loved the small town of Woodland, it being more like the home she had left behind in McIntosh (even though it didn't snow very much), and she became a beloved part of that community.
Hazel Mae married Ralph Bryant and had two children, but this marriage ended in divorce. It was hard to raise two children alone in 1946, but she managed_finding work at Abe Martin's Insurance and being helped greatly by her mother and sister to care for her small family.
In 1950, Hazel Mae met Don Merz. They were married in 1951. Don was from the rival town of Kalama,WA, and for the next 62 years Kalama would be her home. She again became a beloved part of the community. The family grew with the arrivals of three more children.
In 1958, she and Don bought the Kalama Burger Bar and for the next 20 years she was primarily a home maker. Upon Don's unexpected death she was forced to run the business on her own, learning as she went. Once again, it was hard to step in and keep going after such a loss, but she managed to do what she had to do. She was successful in business, retiring in 1984, to return to the role of home maker, wonderful mother, and grandmother.
Hazel Mae made time to volunteer and serve faithfully at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kalama, as a HOST tutor in the elementary school, and as a poll worker on election day. She also sold car license tabs and often helped her mother and sisters care for her invalid brother. She met regularly downtown for coffee with her dear friends. And of course, she baby sat and helped care for all of her grandchildren.
Hazel Mae set an example of faith in God for her children and grandchildren. She laid in them the foundations for their own faith and now they know that she has gone to heaven.
She will be deeply missed by all those she left behind.
Hazel Mae is survived by her five children and their spouses: Terry and Jackie Bryant of Bremerton, David and Mary Bryant of Ridgefield, Richard and Debbie Merz of Kalama, Michael Merz of Vancouver and Elizabeth and Bill Buchan of Longview; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and scores of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents; sisters, Mona Richards and Mercedes Schlekau; and brothers, Carl Richards and H.C. Richards, Jr.
A Rosary will be held at noon Fri., Feb. 1, 2013 with a funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kalama, WA. Reception to follow.
Please sign her guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.