John C. Hazell

John C. Hazell, 74, of Parsons, went to his eternal home the morning of Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Freeman West in Joplin.

John Charles Hazell was born on April 11, 1950, to Boyd and Mildred (Brueggeman) Hazell in Parsons, Kansas.  He grew up and attended school in rural Parsons, graduating from Labette County High School in 1968.  After high school, John attended Northeastern Oklahoma A & M in Miami, Oklahoma, for two years.  While at NEO, he was a bull rider.

His career as a welder/machinist began by working with his dad at Dayton Superior.  For a time, he worked for Mobile Freeze.  In his 42-year career with Ruskin Manufacturing, he traveled coast to coast to work on various job sites.  He retired from Ruskin Manufacturing in 2017.

He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Parsons and a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.  He was also a member of the Altamont Saddle Club.

A jack-of-all-trades, John enjoyed working in his machine shop, along with farming, ranching, thrifting, cast-iron cooking, and watching Nascar.   He also enjoyed sharing his love and knowledge of ammunition and firearms with his children and grandchildren teaching them how to shoot, safely handle firearms and reload shells.  Family was the center of John's life.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren at their sporting events and family get-togethers.

On August 16, 1975, John and Jean Marie Vanmiddlesworth were united in marriage at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parsons.  Jean survives of the home.

Other survivors include:

Two sons – Brian Hazell of Altamont, Kansas

Keith Hazell and his wife, Suzanne, of Oswego, Kansas

One daughter – Kimberly Barragar and her husband, Brent, of Parsons, Kansas

Six grandchildren – Braden Barragar, Kyler Barragar, Tayton Boyd Charles Hazell, Brooklynn Hazell, Kobe Hazell, and Creedence Hazell

Two sisters – Suzann Herold and her husband, David, of Altamont, Kansas

Jill Dodson and her husband, Tim, of Collinsville, Oklahoma

Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Parsons.  The rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.  The family will receive friends following the rosary.  A private family burial will take place at a later date at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the John C. Hazell Education Fund for his grandchildren.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS  67357.