Hazel Welter

Hazel Elizabeth Welter, daughter of the late Henry Russell and Audrey Elizabeth Kern Buckner, was born Dec. 22, 1924, in Cape Girardeau and departed her life Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau at the age of 98.

Hazel Welter

Hazel Welter

On May 17, 1946, she married Richard William Welter in Ancell. He preceded her in death Oct. 28, 1986.

Hazel graduated from May Greene Elementary School and Cape Girardeau Central High School with the class of May 1942. She served in the U.S. Navy WAVES from 1944 to 1946, during World War II. She then worked at the Montgomery Ward store from 1948 to 1960 and Scott County Clerk's Office in July 1967, and retired in February 1990 as chief deputy county clerk.

She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, Missouri, Ladies Sodality and Kelso Senior Citizens and was a former member of St. Anne's Quilt Club. She was the only continuous charter member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary No. 6407.

Hazel is survived by one daughter, Trudy (Michael) LeGrand of Brighton, Michigan; sister, Peggy Evans of Palm Bay, Florida; brother, Harold (Melba) Buckner of Scott City; two grandchildren, Richard LeGrand of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Russell LeGrand of Brighton; two great-grandchildren, Evarista LeGrand and Calvin LeGrand; a close friend, Linda Wadlington; and many nieces and nephews.

Apart from her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Lou Koechig; two brothers, James Buckner and infant brother Chester Buckner; and two brothers-in-law, J.B. Evans and Lloyd Koechig.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City, beginning with a prayer service at 4 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at St. Augustine Church in Kelso, with the Rev. Tomasz Wilk officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Missouri Veterans Home Bingo Fund, 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.