HAZEL TIDWELL RACHELS

Hazel Ellen Tidwell Rachels, age 95, of the Glendale Community in north Walton County passed away at her home Saturday, June 22, 2019.    She was born  March 22, 1924 in the Gaskin, Florida community to Cleve and Carrie Tidwell. She graduated in 1942 from Walton High School. Then she worked at the ASCS office, later the Office of Price Administration (rationing board), and followed by employment with Fisher Hardware. She retired from her final job at First National Bank (Sun Trust Bank) where she was employed for 25 years as a bookkeeper. She married James Buford “Butch” Rachels on November 25, 1950 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. They made their final home in Glendale, Florida where they raised their three daughters. Hazel was a long time, active member of the Glendale Presbyterian Church as youth leader, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and secretary-treasurer of the Glendale Presbyterian Cemetery Association, Inc.  Over her lifetime she filled many positions—daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend, and co-worker. Her gentle spirit and sweet personality made her special to all who were fortunate enough to know her. The love, care, guidance, and sense of humor she shared with her family and friends will be missed but never forgotten. She leaves behind a legacy of strong Christian faith and of service to others.   She is preceded in death by her loving husband, James Buford Rachels, her parents  Cleve and Carrie Tidwell, and siblings Louise Tidwell Peters and Glen Tidwell, nephew B. J. “Jerry” Peters, and niece Hope Rachels.

Hazel is survived by her three daughters, Karen Medley of  Dothan, Alabama; Nancy Currie of  DeFuniak Springs, Florida; and Beth Tucker and husband Martin Tucker of DeFuniak Springs, Florida;  four grandchildren, Rachel Norman and husband Matthew of DeFuniak Springs, Fl; Holli Medley of Atlanta, Georgia; Reid Tucker and wife Klariz of Tallahassee, Florida; and Jesse Tucker of Boca Raton, Florida; and five great-grandchildren- Ella Kate, Judah, Fletcher, Owen, and Hobson Norman of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. She also leaves behind one brother-Arnold Tidwell of Tallahassee, Florida; nieces Faye Howard of Bushnell, Florida, Glenda Currie of Gainesville, Florida, Cindy Masters of Auburndale, Florida, and Susan Bryant of Calvary, Georgia,  nephews Charles Tidwell of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Sammy Rachels of Navarre, Florida, and Jimmy Wesley of Theodore, Alabama along with their families

Flowers are acceptable but in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Hazel Rachel’s memory to Glendale Presbyterian Church, Attn: Scholarship Fund,  9218 State Highway 83 North,  DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433 A time of visitation will be held from 9 until 11 A.M. Tuesday, June 25, 2019  in Glendale Presbyterian Church with the funeral beginning at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Bill Richoux officiating.  Burial will follow in  Glendale Presbyterian Church Cemetery.