Hazel V. Miller

Hazel Viola (Markison) Miller, 92, a woman of unparalleled emotional strength, died May 19, 2016, at Oakwood Care Facility, in Clear Lake.

Born in Greensboro, Vt. on Sept. 27, 1923, to Henry and Anna (Hill) Markison, Hazel lost her father at the age of five and was raised in the VFW Home for Widows and Orphans in Eaton Rapids, Mich.  She graduated from Eaton Rapids Schools and attended the University of Michigan before marrying the love of her life in 1943.  Hazel and Paul made their home in Grand Ledge, Mich., where Paul founded a successful veterinary practice and Hazel assisted him in his clinic and created a comfortable home for their family on a sweet farm in the country.  They moved to Williamsburg, Mich. in 1989, and Hazel came to Clear Lake in 2004.

Hazel’s dignity and Yankee strength of spirit were an inspiration to her family and friends.  Even in the most difficult moments in her life, she squared her shoulders and faced her challenges head-on and without complaint.  She lived by the words of her Irish grandmother, who said, “You might as well laugh as cry,” and Hazel’s dark humor and strong will helped her thrive.  Whip-smart and always well-informed, she was a staunch Republican and a formidable opponent in any political discussion.  A cherished mother and grandmother, she was also capable of great love, which she showed best in the kitchen.  Her vanilla pudding, chop suey, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese will always be defining comfort foods for her family.  She was a wonder with a needle and thread, creating everything from Halloween costumes to quilts, and she was also an avid reader of crime dramas and “trashy” romances.

Hazel’s institutional upbringing left her with little traditional family experience, but it was her life’s work to create a stable and loving family with Paul. That family endures, and it is with immense gratitude that they will gather to celebrate her life in a private memorial in Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Paul Miller.  She leaves a large and grateful family, including daughter, Anne (Terry) Unsworth, of Clear Lake, sons, Toby (Heather) Miller, of Alden, Mich. and Greg (Sandi) Miller, of Shakopee, Minn.; grandson, Tim Unsworth; granddaughters, Mary (Chris Anderson) Unsworth, Kate (Magnus) Miller-Wilson, and Rachel (Gus) Morison; six great-grandchildren; and brother, Hank Markison.

The family of Hazel Miller would like to thank the amazing staff at Oakwood Care Facility for the outstanding care they provided to their mother and grandmother.  The staff at Oakwood did more than take care of Hazel’s physical needs when she could no longer perform those tasks on her own; they truly cared for and valued her as a person.  In her last days, they showed tenderness, compassion, and genuine love as they kept her comfortable.  They shared memories of their time with her and supported the family during this difficult time.  No one could ask for more.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.