Hazel Juanita Handy, 86, of Blackwell, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at her residence in Blackwell, Oklahoma. She was born May 28, 1923 in Kellyville, Oklahoma to James and Essie (Stout) Cooper.

Graveside service will be Friday, September 4, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Blackwell Cemetery with Pastor Robert Foos officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackwell Funeral Home, Blackwell, Oklahoma.

Hazel grew up in the hills of Oklahoma, helping her grandmother do chores and deliver babies.  She went to school in Olive, Oklahoma until the age of 14.

On May 20, 1944, at the age of twenty one, she married Alfredo Cantu Handy in San Antonio, Texas. Together they made Blackwell their home. Before Alfredo preceded her in death in 1998, they celebrated fifty three years together.

Hazel did welding at a shipyard for submarines and battleships for the U.S. government for the war. Then she worked for Boeing in Wichita on aircrafts and built 707 aircrafts. Before retiring at South West Cupid, her and her husband ran and own a family restaurant in Blackwell called “Handy’s Café”

The best achievement she feels that she accomplished was raising a handicapped child along with grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Hazel was a member of the Veterans Foreign War Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed sewing and spending time with the grandchildren, great grandchild and great great grandchildren. She also enjoyed helping the Special Olympics and her pets Sister Sue and Harley.

One thing that you can say about Hazel is she would be a friend to anyone that needed one.

Survivors include her daughter Helen J. Briggs and her husband Danny of Blackwell, Oklahoma; one son, George Alfred Handy and his wife Mary of League City, Texas; one sister, LaDonna F. Cooper; one brother, Richard Cooper and his wife Barbara; seven grandchildren, Becky Stevens, Cheryl Paige, Sonja Alexander, Kim Jernigan, Cindy Bunny, Joey and Debbie Handy; thirteen great grandchildren, Bobby and Lorane Jernigan, Brock and Austin Alexander, Alicia Coyle, Thomas and Dustin Menke, Kobe and Kayleanna Jernigan, Christopher Betz, Alex, Aaron, and Addisyn Handy; ten great great grandchildren, Kingston Alexander, Ace McBride, Brooklyn, Riley, and Noah Jernigan, Alania, Abby, and Riyah Coyle, Keelee and Kayden Menke.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a brother, Oliver Cooper.

Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in care of Blackwell Funeral Home, 301 W. Blackwell, Blackwell, Oklahoma, 74631

Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.blackwellfh.com