HAZEL DEMPSEY SHARPE, 86, of Athens, TX, passed
away Dec. 12, 2015, with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery.
Hazel was born Dec. 28, 1928 in Ranger, TX, the
oldest child of Ernest Lee & Maggie Viola Dempsey.
She attended Ranger High School in the Class of
1945. Hazel was a very strong woman and worked
very hard to achieve her goals. She started
school at age four and graduated high school at
sixteen. This determination carried on throughout
her life. While living in Ranger, she began
working for Hollywood Vasserette in 1953 and was
soon made supervisor. She was transferred to
Athens in 1964 as assistant plant manager. In
1970, Hazel was promoted to plant manager, the
only female plant manager within the company. She
retired in 1991 after 38 1/2 years with Hollywood
Vasserette. But as hard working as Hazel was, she
also had a light hearted side. As a young girl
on her family's farm, she loved to ride horses
with her friends. Hazel loved fast horses and
fast cars! She also enjoyed games. She was a
good bowler and an ace 42 player. Hazel spent
many a pleasant hour at the boats in Louisiana &
an occasional trip to Las Vegas. But it was her
family that gave her the most happiness in life.
Hazel was a devoted mother and a loving and kind
grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is predeceased by her beloved youngest daughter,
Pam Morgan in 1977 and her loving companion of 43
years, Frank Sharpe in 2014.
Hazel is survived by her two sisters, Joyce Dempsey
Browning (RHS-1954) and Audie Faye Dempsey Falk (RHS-
1958) & husband Ray (RHS-1955); her children, Linda
Morgan, Brenda Westbrook & husband Ben, Elaine Algood
& husband Bobby, Karen Sharpe and Lisa Sharpe; her
grandsons and spouses, Bobby & Janice McRee and Ben
Eric & Alisha Westbrook; great-grandchildren, Chelsey
Luttrell, Ross Mcree, and Jaxson, Houston and Archer
Westbrook.
Hazel cherished each and everyone of her family. She
was very much loved and will be greatly and forever
missed by her family and her friends.