Hazel Pearl (Brown) Wilson 1911-2008

Hazel Pearl Wilson, daughter of the late M.D. and Elsie Elva (Courson) Brown, was born on September 13, 1911 in Wharton, Missouri. Pearl attended and graduated from the Bloodland School of Pulaski County in 1929. While a student there, she was a member of the basketball team.

On February 1, 1932, Pearl was united in marriage to Ralph Abbott Wilson in Rolla, Missouri. There shared over 65 years of marriage together and were blessed with one daughter, Doris and one son, Jimmie Lee.

Pearl was a very active and hardworking woman. In the late 1950s, she worked for the Waynesville High School as a secretary and then went on to work for Drew Pippin Insurance for six years. Pearl worked for Pulaski County Family Services for a few years before she started working for the Pulaski County Sheriffs Department. She worked for the Sheriffs Department for 13 years before retiring in April of 1989.

Pearl was a charter member of the Westside Mission that started in 1960 with Norman Sanders as the pastor. She taught Sunday School and some of her students were Bill Morgan, Doug Long, and Dwight Hensley. The story is told that one Sunday, Pearl had the class pick out a favorite song and Doug Long said that he thought they should sing God Bless America. (His father was away in the military at the time.) Pearl was a member of the First Baptist Church of Waynesville and was the oldest living member of the church. She was president of WMU in 1961. She loved music and would sing solos and play the piano at church. Pearl was also a member of the Harmony Home Economic Club.

Pearl went home to be with her Lord at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at the Life Care Center of Waynesville having attained the age of 96 years, 5 months and 20 days.

Pearl leaves to cherish her memory her daughter: Doris Davenport and her husband, Dale of Waynesville, MO; one sister: Vera Williams of Tampa, FL; one grandson: Jeff Breedlove and his wife Alisa of Waynesville, MO; three great grandchildren: Charles, Brittany and Bradley Breedlove; one great-great grandson: Trever Breedlove and several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; infant son: Jimmie Lee; one sister: Bessie Hamilton and two brothers: Raymond and Arlo Brown.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 7, 2008 in the Waynesville Memorial Chapel with Dr. Dennis Crowder officiating. Pianist Becky Lercher accompanied Soloist Mike Freeman as he sang Near to the Heart of God and Nothing Between. Serving as escorts were Michael Wilson, Charles Breedlove, Michael Parrack, Eugene Wilson, Bill Walters, Bill Morgan, Doug Long, Dwight Hensley and Dr. Jim Hackworth.

Burial followed in the Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Waynesville Memorial Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Pearl Wilson to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and may be left at Waynesville Memorial Chapel.