Obituary of Hazel Hiawatha Whitaker

Celebration of Life services for Hazel Owens Morgan Whitaker, 85, will be held Friday, April 12, 2013,at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel of Mobile Memorial Funeral Home with Rev. Thomas Lane Butts, Jr. officiating. Interment will immediately follow on the grounds of Mobile Memorial Gardens, Mobile, Alabama. The family would like to take a moment to reminisce upon Hazel's memories by greeting guests for visitation Friday, April 12, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 12:00 p.m. at Mobile Memorial Funeral Home. Hazel Owens Morgan Whitaker was born September 17, 1927, in Bermuda, Alabama, to the late James Elbert and Aura Mae Owen Owens and was surrounded by loved ones singing as her Heavenly Father welcomed her home April 9, 2013 in Summerdale, Alabama. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; the father of her children, Escar Morgan, her husband, Robert "Bob" Whitaker, brother, James Lamar Owens "Bud". Left to cherish the precious memories that Hazel leaves behind will be her six daughters: Melba Goetter and husband Fred, Kathy Ridaught and husband Donnie, Dottie Studt and husband J. R., Ruth Baker and husband Sonny, Sharon Hipps and husband Walter and Diane Goetz and husband Randy, three sisters, Joyce Andrews Owens, Lillie Jerkins and Ethelyn Rhodes; four brothers, Woodrow, William, Paul and John Fowler, fifteen grandchildren, forty-three great-grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren, along with droves of extended family members and many wonderful friends. Honoring Hazel as pallbearers will be her great-grandchildren, Brenton Horne, Corey Middleton, Taylor Middleton, Gavin Middleton, Jonathan Baker, Morgan Baker, Justin Ezell and Jarrett Boswell. Honorary pallbearers Ryan McRae, Evan McRae, Murphy Middleton, Katie Watts, Hannah Stewart, Brittany Wilson, Dylan Vinson and Brandon Johnson.