Andrew Hazard

ST. LOUIS -- Andrew Bennett Hazard, 39, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at Jefferson Barracks Veterans Hospital in St. Louis, after a long struggle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 15, 1970, in Memphis, Tenn., to Patrick and Nancy Hughes Hazard. He and Jamie S. Pekios were married Sept. 17, 2003, in Cape Girardeau.

Andy attended St. Joseph School in Cairo, Ill., St. Paul's Academy in Covington, La., and graduated from Whitehaven High School in Memphis. He attended Southern Illinois University and Southeast Missouri State University.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving as an infantry squad leader with the 3rd Armored Division. His missions included Panama, Honduras and Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War. He had achieved Ranger status before his discharge in 1993 due to injury.

Loving survivors include his wife, Jamie, and sons Joseph Francis, 5, and Thomas Ryan, 2, all of Cape Girardeau; his mother, Nancy Joiner of Jackson; a brother, Chris Joiner of Burfordville; two sisters, Stephanie and Jessica Hazard; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Also surviving is his father-in-law, Tim Pekios of Cape Girardeau; mother-in-law, Susan Pekios of St. Louis; and brother-in-law, Ryan Pekios of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Patrick Bernard Hazard; his paternal grandparents, Frank and Eliane Hazard of Memphis; his maternal grandparents, Norman D. and Rose Walder Hughes of Cairo, Ill., and Jackson.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until time of service Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The Rev. Ron Watts will officiate a memorial service and celebration of Andy's life at 7 p.m., concluding with ceremonial flag folding and presentation by Team Delta of Cape Girardeau.

In honoring Andy's wishes, his body has been donated to medical science.

Burial will be private, at a later date, at Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge, Ill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to an educational account for his children (to be established this week at Bank of America) or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.