Hazel Madge Shaw

WILLOW PARK -- Longtime Tularosa resident, Hazel Madge Campbell Shaw, 95, passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2013 in Weatherford. Cremation has taken place under the direction of White's Funeral Home, Weatherford. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in her name by going to the American Heart Association link at donate.heart.org. The oldest of eight children, Hazel was born on June 18, 1918 in Vici, Oklahoma to parents, Alta Lafayette and Grace Kygar Campbell. Hazel was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend who will be missed dearly. She was so very proud of her family and cherished them immensely. After the death of her husband in 2004, Hazel made the difficult decision to sell the family farm and move to Weatherford to be close to her family in the Ft. Worth/Dallas area. She and her husband had purchased the farm from her late husband's father after deciding they weren't cut out for homesteading Alaska in 1938. As she liked to recount, "The place on Bookout Road looked pretty good after living in a tent with four otherpeople and snow up to our rear ends." Farm life also included raising and training their own Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses. When her husband was busy with their race horses at Ruidoso Downs, Sunland Park or the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque, Hazel was right there as well, selling parimutuel tickets at the $50 window. Her strong and honest work ethic was rewarded with a stint lasting over 35 years. In addition to working for AmTote International, Hazel was a salesperson for JCPenney in Alamogordo for nearly 20 years. She loved her coworkers at her two jobs outside the family farm and regaled everyone with colorful stories of bookies and shoplifters. She was an incredibly hard-working and dedicated person who always made sure her family's needs came before her own. Hazel also loved garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores and was always on the hunt for a bargain. In her spare time, she channeled her creative talents in many directions. As a gifted seamstress, she could make or sew anything from memory or scratch. She clothed her family, made blankets and ice boots for the horses and recovered their sectional sofa - at least three times - the last at age 87. Some may remember her handmade Native American dolls with hand cut fringe and beaded costumes which she sold for a number of years at Heart of the Desert gift shop at Eagle Ranch. Her vegetable garden was also a source of pride and a testament to her long life. Every meal included something from the garden or the orchard which she hand picked, canned, fried, stewed or pickled. And no one could match her pecan pies - they were always a family favorite. Preceded in death by her infant daughter, Rita Mae Shaw; her husband of 67 years, Herbert Buster Shaw; and all seven of her siblings. Hazel will be greatly missed by all who survive - her devoted and loving family: Daughter, Harlene Shaw Newhart and her husband, Bill Newhart, of Weatherford; and two grandsons; Ken Phillips and his wife, Becky Winship Phillips, of Dallas; and Herbert Phillips and his wife, Dolores Camacho-Phillips, of Austin. White's Funeral HomeWeatherford, 817-596-4811