Hazel Sommer Willmore, age 92, formerly of Rexburg, Idaho, passed peacefully from this life on Saturday evening, July 3, 2010 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Hazel was born on December 17th, 1917, to Edward and Alice Hendricks Sommer at their home in Hibbard, Idaho, near Rexburg, Idaho. She was the fourth of eight children born into their family. As a teenager she enjoyed attending dances at Riverside Gardens and the church sponsored dances held in Plano, Burton and Hibbard, Idaho. It was at one of those dances where she met Don Willmore. After about a year of dating, they married in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on April 20th, 1937.
Hazel and Don were blessed with four children, Carol Ann, Arthur Shayne, Myrle, and Deon. Hazel, Don, and their family lived in the Hibbard and Rexburg areas during the winter months, and then moved to their home at their dry-farm in the Clementsville area near Green Canyon for the summer months. Their home on College Avenue survived the Teton Dam Flood in 1976. After their retirement, Hazel and Don built a beautiful home in Rexburg. As Don's health declined in the years prior to his passing in 1989, Hazel took care of him at home with the help of her family. Hazel lived in her home in Rexburg until moving to Idaho Falls in 2001.
Hazel always had a project to complete or somewhere to go. She seemed to be constantly sewing a quilt for members of her family, or for those in need. She donated many hundreds of quilts over the years to organizations for people in need in her own community and around the world. Even in the last few years of her life as her ability to get around decreased, she could often be found sitting at her sewing machine sewing quilt tops together. She was always known to have a beautiful yard and garden and could often be found in her kitchen preserving a variety of fruits and vegetables. Hazel loved to cook and loved to share what she cooked. No one ever came to her house without being offered something to eat. And at Hazel's house, if you went away hungry, it was your own fault. She also loved to play games and never just let anyone win, even her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She "ran the wheels off her car" taking rides around the countryside and going shopping. Some of her favorite trips were driving through the Hibbard area, the Teton Basin and over Pine Pass to Swan Valley where she would get a square ice cream cone, and to see her daughters and their families.
Hazel was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many positions in the Primary, MIA, Sunday School, and Relief Society. She also served for many years in the Civic Club in Rexburg
In Hazel's journal she wrote, "I am so grateful for my three girls for being so good to me. Grateful for my grandchildren and their wives and husband. So grateful for my great-grandchildren and my sons-in-law. These are all my prize possessions."
Hazel is survived by her daughters Myrle Willmore of Idaho Falls, and Deon (Alan) Howell of Leadore, Idaho, her grandchildren Bret (Karlene) Hokanson of Freedom, Wyoming, Drew (Lisa) Hokanson of Afton, Wyoming, Jennifer (Clifton) Jones of Jerome, Idaho, and Courtney (JaRee) Howell of Leadore, Idaho, as well as 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons. She will also be missed by her sister Ellen Carlson of Idaho Falls, and her brothers Jode (Kathy) Sommer of Ramona, California, Etsel Sommer of Ammon, Idaho, and Jack (Emili) Sommer of Rexburg, Idaho and son-in-law Gary Hokanson of Freedom, Wyoming. She was preceded in death by her husband Don Willmore, her daughter Carol Ann Hokanson, and her son Arthur Shayne Willmore as well as her parents and two sisters, Erma and Lillis.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Mountain View Wound Care Clinic, Fairwinds-Sand Creek staff, and EIRMC Cardiac Care unit staff.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7, at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg. The family will receive friends Wednesday for one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Rexburg Cemetery.