Hazel Mae (Case) Free, 88, of McKinney, Texas passed away on July 12, 2018. She was born December 17, 1929, to Odie B. and Dovie (Caton) Case in Bowie, Texas. Hazel was the fourth of eleven children. She married Harold Free on January 24, 1948. He preceded her in death in 1991 in McKinney.
She worked for the Collin County Court Office as a County Clerk for many years before her retirement in 1992. Hazel served with Judge Cope and Judge Swanner. She loved her job and enjoyed the friendships she developed with the staff, law enforcement officers and all she came in contact with. After her retirement, she traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, and many other places along the East Coast. In 2000, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of going on a mission trip to South Korea to share the Love of Jesus. Hazel loved God and she had a strong faith. She shared her faith as she taught Sunday school for many years. Hazel was always quite in awe that God would use her in such a capacity. She loved life! Hazel enjoyed every episode made of NCIS, CSI and Law and Order. Her hobbies included reading mysteries and keeping her mind active by doing word searches and Sudoku. She enjoyed sewing quilts and she sewed many in her lifetime. Hazel shared her techniques with others as well. At one time, she was known as the “Bear Lady” because she would make keepsake bears out of old quilts to share with others. In the last few years, she made baby quilts and donated them to the Samaritan Inn.
She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Woolverton of McKinney, Texas; son, Harold Free of Denison, Texas; grandchildren, Jody Woolverton and wife Amy, Wade Woolverton and wife Kate, Hal Free, Heather Hardesty and Maggie Donihoo; cherished great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Caleb, Emma, Lindsey, Trey, Kayleigh and Grace; sister, Pat Coalman and husband Lee whom she considered a second daughter; brother, Melvin Case; and a host of nieces and nephews who will cherish her memory. She always had a special place in her heart for Heather W.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters, Donnie Pittman, Dorothy Franklin, Laverne Hardin, Glenna Moorehead, brothers, Leon, Alvin, Keith and Kenny Case.
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 15, 2018 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Interment is to follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Saturday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.