Dewey County Obituary
Brumfield Cemetery

Hazel Wanda Strong England-Nelson

Birth: Sep. 10, 1913 - Death: Aug. 16, 2012

© Redinger Funeral Home
Date unknown
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Hazel Wanda Stong was born to George and Stella (Edwards) Stong, September 10, 1913 on the family farm near Granton, Oklahoma in Cheyenne Valley, Major County. She departed this life August 16, 2012 at the Seiling Hospital.

In 1922, the family moved to Seiling where Hazel attended school. At age 17, she graduated with honors with the class of 1930. She was baptized into the First Christian Church in Seiling as a child. In the summer of 1930. Hazel married her high school sweetheart, Leslie (Les) England, who preceded her in death in 1971. They spent their early married years in Seiling before moving to Enid during World War II. After the war, the couple returned to Seiling where they remained.

Hazel's early work included commuting to Woodward to work at Trego's jean factory and she worked at Mendenhall Grocery several years before she and Les bought half interest in the Abel & Stong Grocery in 1957, becoming partners with her brother, Harold and renaming the store Stong and England Grocery and Market. After Les died, Hazel bought full interest in the store in 1975 and with the help of her son Phillip, kept the store (now called England Grocery and Market) operating until closing in 2000. A devoted and hard-working businesswoman, Hazel loved working with the public and was named Businesswoman of the Year in 1996 by the Seiling Chamber of Commerce. In 1972, Hazel married Zenas Nelson who preceded her in 1996.

She was always proud of her children and received many visitors over the years who came to the store to compliment her on "her boy Gary". Hazel cherished family gatherings and spending time with her grandchildren and for years made a regular activity of going to Marsha's Cafe for hamburgers, coffee and pie with her family and friends.

Hazel is survived by her four children: Richard England of Lakewood, CO; Darla Chain and husband Ralph of Canton; Gary England and wife Mary of Edmond; Phillip England and wife Susan of Seiling; one sister, Marla Paden of Seiling; ten grandchildren: Pamela England-Hom and husband Gilbert of San Francisco, CA, Kurt England and wife Jana of Denver, CO, Steve England and wife Elizabeth of Denver, CO, Andrea Hutchison and husband Brad of Canton, Monte Chain and wife Dianna of Canton, Molly Lutosky and husband Mike of San Diego, CA, Lance England and wife Tereisa of Woodward, Amanda Geiger and husband Jerrod of Norman, Andrea England of Destin, FL and Lunden England of Norman. She is also survived by eighteen great grandchildren and twelve great-great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded by her parents, both husbands, five brothers, five sisters and two daughters-in-law.

The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, August 20, 2012 at the Redinger Funeral Chapel with Pastor Orville White, officiating. Interment will follow in the Brumfield Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Area Medical Foundation with the Redinger Funeral Home-Box 236-Seiling, OK 73663 as custodian of the funds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    Burial: Brumfield Cemetery Seiling Dewey County Oklahoma, USA