Hazel Virginia Worrell

Her last wish was finally granted. On the morning of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Hazel Virginia (Worthington) Worrell left her earthly life to assume her eternal, heavenly life. Her wish for her angel wings was finally granted. Hazel passed away peacefully in her home in Ellisville, Missouri with her son and daughter-in-law at her side. Hazel was born on August 29, 1933 in the family’s farm house in rural Cyrene, Missouri. She was the second child born to Clare Bibb Worthington and Lillian Gillum Wilson Worthington. Sadly, Lillian passed away from complications following the birth of son, Frank, less than two years after Hazel’s birth. In what would likely be a television mini-series today, Hazel ended up being child number four in what would eventually be a family of nine children born to Clare and the first three of his five wives. Her siblings included half-sister Claretta Tinsley of Bowling Green, half-brother Guy “Bud” Worthington of Hannibal, sister Corrine Gregory of Middletown, brother Frank Worthington of Bowling Green, half-brother Charles Worthington of Pittsfield, Illinois, half-sister Mabel Holman of Stockbridge, Georgia, half-sister Marilyn Wilson of Eolia, and last but certainly not least half-brother William “Bill” Worthington of Charlotte, North Carolina. Quite a brood for a small, rural farmhouse. Hazel was an “active” child. One aunt called her “quite precocious”, while another stated she was definitely “one of the Wilsons”. Regardless of the labels, Hazel truly loved to be outside with her father and her beloved uncle Garnet. While she enjoyed “helping” with the garden and the livestock, her favorite outside activity by far was riding her horse, Bess. Being a farm girl in the 1930s and 1940’s Hazel was part of the “one room schoolhouse” elementary education system – in her case the Prairie Mound School. She attended Bowling Green High School and was one of the few remaining members of the Class of 1951. From the hallowed halls of BGHS, Hazel left the farm and moved to St. Louis where she attended the Washington University School of Nursing. Once again, Hazel was one of the last surviving members of the school’s Class of 1954. While still at home on the farm, Hazel met and started dating a young man by the name of Bill Worrell from New Hartford. While it wasn’t a “love at first sight” relationship, they soon realized they were soul mates and married on December 26, 1953. Neither particularly wanted a “Christmas Wedding” but with Hazel still in nursing school and Bill on leave from the army, they had few other options. After graduation, Hazel moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where Bill was in cook’s school at Fort Sill. Hazel would later say they survived on surplus army rations and love. During their time in Oklahoma, Hazel experienced the stark reality of racism when she worked at an “Indian hospital” as they were called in those days. Years later she would talk about the disparity of the conditions and healthcare provided to the “Indians” versus what was mainstream for the white population. Her time in Oklahoma helped steer her to be an advocate for the less fortunate. Once back in Missouri, Bill and Hazel purchased a farm near Bill’s parents outside New Hartford. Their first house was a four-square farmhouse without an indoor bathroom. Being more or less a “jack of all trades” Bill had a new indoor bathroom finished in time for the birth of their first child, a son, Paul. Both of Bill’s parents died far too young. In the fall of 1963, Bill, Hazel and Paul moved to Bill’s parents’ former home where they would live for the next twelve years. While in that home, they welcomed their second child, another son, Phillip. Prior to Phillip’s birth, Hazel worked at the Pike County Memorial Hospital as a charge nurse. After Phillip came along, Hazel took a part-time job with the Ralls County Health Department where she became their maternal, infant, and child health nurse. A job meant to be for a few years ended up to be a public health career lasting over thirty years. After she retired from the Health Department, Hazel volunteered with the Pike County Hospice for over another twenty years. Not too bad for a little country girl from rural Cyrene. The Worrells were married for forty-five years before Bill passed away in 1999. On the farm some years were bountiful while others were a bust. Regardless of the harvest, Bill and Hazel relied on God, a good sense of humor, good neighbors and love to and from their family. Hazel loved flowers and gardening. She would weed and seed and often share starter shoots with neighbors and family. While she loved to cook, especially trying out new recipes on Bill just to get his reaction, she would later claim cooking was a drudge – that’s why God created restaurants! Hazel also loved spending time with family and friends. This past year at the annual Worthington Reunion, Hazel was recognized as the oldest living member of the family. She had a great laugh at being the family matriarch. Her nursing class held annual reunion trips starting in the late 1960’s. Hazel rarely missed one, traveling to many states for that week to ten days of pure fun with “the girls”. She also enjoyed many monthly lunches with her high school classmates. After Bill died, she found the cure for missing him was to travel – east coast, west coast, the old south, the wild west, Hawaii, Chicago, New York, Alaska, England, Ireland, Germany to name a few. Hazel often travelled with her buddy Sue Raufer. One never knew what to expect when those two got together. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, three step-mother, sister Corrine Gregory and husband Wendell “Greg”, brother Frank Worthington, half-sister Claretta Tinsley and husband Willard, half-brother Guy “Bud” Worthington, half-sisters Marilyn Wilson and Mable Holman and husband Wayne, half-sister-in-law Suzanne Worthington, and the love of her life, husband William “Bill” Worrell. She is survived by sons Paul and his wife Pat of Loveland, Colorado and Phil and his wife Sharon of Ellisville, half-brothers Charles Worthington and William “Bill” Worthington, sister-in-law Ethel Worthington, half-brother-in-law William “Dub” Wilson, half-sisters-in-law Sandy Worthington and Mary Ann Worthington, two nephews, two nieces, seven half-nieces, seven half-nephews, a plethora of cousins, and countless friends - both young and old. A devout Baptist all her life, Hazel knew from a young age where she would go at the time of her death and who would be there to celebrate her arrival. Welcome Home Hazel! Well done my child, your race is over. You have fought the fight, you have kept the faith, enter into the joy of the Lord. Well done my child, your crown is waiting. Here is your robe of white, your mansion is just in sight. Come into the city of light, well done my child. – Wood & Myrick

Hazel Virginia Worrell

August 29, 1933 - February 25, 2026