Hazel Ann Wilhoite, 77, of Paola passed away Monday, December 24, 2012 at her home.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 30, 2012 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, Kansas. Visitation will be 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Hillsdale Cemetery.

Hazel was born on November 12, 1935 in Osawatomie, Kansas to Hazle LeRoy and Mary Elizabeth Gertrude (Benton) Martin. She graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1953 and from Ft. Scott Mercy School of Nursing in 1959. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Psi Chapter at University of Kansas where she attended KU for 2 years. Hazel worked at Osawatomie State Hospital for 35 years as a R.N.

She married Ernest D. Wilhoite in 1959 and they had three children.

Hazel was a past-worthy matron of Eastern Star, president of District IV of KSNA, and a past member of Paola Cultural Center Board. She has served on Miami County Cultural Arts Committee and Election Board and was on the Board of Directors of State Executive Board of KSNA, Miami County Mental Health, Paola Senior Citizen Center, and Friends of the Mentally Ill. She also held the title of Woman of the Year for Business and Professional Women Organization, directed the Amazing Grace Chorus from 1972 – 2010, sang for various programs, organizations, churches, weddings, and funerals, worked with the Girl Scouts, and appeared in local plays.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers Otis Martin, John “Don” Martin, and Hayes Laverne Martin; and 1 nephew. She is survived by her children Sanjuana Wilhoite of Lewisville, Texas, Ernest Duane Wilhoite of Joplin, Missouri, and Dara Kelley of Pittsburg/Paola, Kansas; grandchildren Marnia of Shiruichi Town, Japan, Ernest Jr. of Joplin, Missouri, Davis of Joplin, Missouri, and Amanda of Paola, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association.