Hazel E. Wagner

Hazel E. Wagner, passed away February 12, 2023, at the LaDow Court Assisted Living facility in Garfield. She was 91. Funeral Services will be held Sunday, February 19th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Farmington SDA Church. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery in Farmington. Viewing for those who wish will be on Friday from 9 – 5 at the Corbeill Funeral Home in Colfax and on Sunday following the services.

Hazel was born August 26, 1931, in San Jose, Calif., to George and Larena Beall Jenkins. She was the third of four children born in the family. They moved around quite a bit as she was growing up and as a teenager they were living in College Place, Washington, where she completed high school. She attended Walla Walla College and as it turns out she would end up meeting her future husband there. After a few years in college she began working for the Upper Columbia Conference offices in Spokane as a secretary. She married Raymond Wagner in 1951 after he had moved back to the family farm near Farmington and that is where they made their home.

They raised two sons on the farm and Hazel kept very busy as a homemaker and mother. She maintained a large garden at their home and she was always very active in church; whether it be teaching, leading programs, singing or helping with the summer vacation bible school. Hazel helped whenever she could on the farm too; feeding harvest crews or driving truck. The Wagner's enjoyed trips to Chatcolet Lake while the boys were growing up, camping trips, or riding motorcycles. Hazel rode less and less as she got older or maybe wiser but still had her bike in the garage.

In 1966 she went to work for the Doctor's office in Fairfield. She was an excellent typist and did most of the transcription work from the dictation notes. She had a lifelong interest in nursing and would often help out at the clinic with nursing duties as instructed. To further pursue her interest in nursing Hazel went back to school in 1980 and attended both the University of Idaho and Washington State University to complete her four year degree with an emphasis on nursing. At the age of 49 she graduated from nursing school in Spokane as a Registered Nurse. Hazel and Raymond moved to the South Hill of Spokane and she worked at all the major hospitals and care centers up there for many years. He continued to drive back and forth to the farm each day.

Hazel's skills as a nurse, her continual interest in learning, and her dedication to her profession led her to earn two Master's Degrees in Nursing along the way. She often found herself in the role of charge nurse and was well respected by her co-workers and doctors. She served as a medical liaison on two mission trips to Madagascar and she also went on a mission to Africa. She did parish nursing for her church in Spokane for many years. At the age of 79, Hazel was still being called in to St. Luke's to help with hospital admits. She truly loved being a nurse. She also loved to shop and could shop for anything; clothes, decorations, you name it. She loved it. She moved to LaDow Court in Garfield about two years ago. Hazel will be missed by many in the community; but especially by her family.

She is survived by her son Wesley (Frances) Wagner at home in Farmington; by three grandchildren of whom she was so proud, Andrea Wagner, Ashley Edwards (Matthew), and Dr. Hillary Wagner (Billy Wang); by two great-grandchildren, Joslynn Marie and Alexis Madison; by a sister, Marie Adams of Chino Valley, Ariz., and by a brother, Ed Jenkins of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Hazel was preceded in death by her husband Raymond in 2012, their son Dr. Randall Wagner in 2019, and by a brother, Merwin.

The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Farmington SDA Church. On-line guest book is at http://www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com

Corbeill Funeral Home, Colfax, is in charge of the arrangements.