PICKAWAY, WV-- Hazel Gay Shrader passed away on Monday, August 15, 2022, at the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte nine days from celebrating her 100 ^th birthday.

She was born on August 24, 1922, in Pickaway to her parents, James Wesley and Minnie Burwell Shrader.

Hazel enjoyed her learning experiences at Pickaway School, Union Elementary School, and Union High School where she was valedictorian of the Class of 1939.

The highlight of her life was attending Marshall University in Huntington where she earned her Standard Normal teaching degree during the Great Depression, then her Bachelors and Masters degrees in education.

Her forty-five years of teaching in Monroe County began in 1942 in the one-room school at Willow Bend, then the Reynolds and Mt. Prospect Schools on the Knobs, Glace, Dewey, Belleview, and Sinks Grove Schools.  She concluded her teaching career at Union Elementary while teaching Head Start during the summer months of 1965-1987.

"Miss Shrader's" children were the many children she influenced throughout her teaching career.

Upon her father's untimely death in 1946, Hazel operated the family farm until she was 62 and continued to mow the lawn until she was 83.

Following her retirement she traveled with her friends on cruises to Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, and Panama, went on Elder Hostel and Just Older Youth (JOY) trips, shopped and spent time with her best friend, Mayo Lemons, and crafted dolls.

Hazel took great pride in being a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for fifty years, the Monroe and West Virginia Reading Council, and was a life member of the Monroe County School Personnel.

She had been a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church since 1933 where she served as the church treasurer and youth Sunday School teacher.  She was an active member and officer of the United Methodist Women for over 50 years.  She also had been a member of Pickaway CEOS.

Surviving are first cousins Bransford Burwell and Alma Jane Burwell Wickline; wives of first cousins, Mayo Martin Lemons and Betty Reese Burwell; cousin and caregiver, Doris Ann Taylor, cousins Linda Lemons Walker and Gary Lemons, Sarah Shrader Slaven, and many other cousins; special friends, Barbara Holesapple and Connie Copeland, who assisted in her care.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 21, one hour prior to funeral services at 2:00 p.m.  at the Groves-Mann Funeral Home Chapel in Union with Pastor Dallas Forren officiating.  Burial will follow at the New Lebanon Cemetery at Pickaway, WV. Pallbearers are Larry Burwell, Gary Lemons, Bill Vass, Rick Bostic, Glenn Carter, Rodney Davis, and Todd Belcher. Honorary pallbearers are Butch Vass, Banny Burwell, Jim Allen, Jim Forren, Bob Allen, Nelson Jenkins, and Dale Beckett.

Those wishing to send the family online condolences or would like to sign the online guestbook, please do so by visiting www.groves-mann.com

Arrangements by Groves-Mann Funeral Home in Union, WV.