Hazel Laurant

Hazel Elizabeth Laurant was born on March 2, 1951, to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Pinkie McGee in Buffalo, New York. Hazel Laurant confessed a belief in the Lord at an early age. She grew up in a Christian home and found it very easy to serve and trust in the Lord. She received her education in the Public Schools of Buffalo, New York and Los Angeles, California, graduating as valedictorian of the first class of Crenshaw High School. She went on to attend Oregon State University, Los Angeles Trade Technical School and Cal State Dominguez Hills. She studied Fashion Design and Accounting and was very talented at both. She was married in Los Angeles to Glendell Laurant. This union was blessed by the birth of two daughters Vertesia Olson and Lydia Laurant, and a son Glendell Laurant, Jr. She moved with her family to Port Orchard in 1986. She attended church throughout her life. Here in Port Orchard, she attended First Baptist Church. Hazel held many careers. She was a designer at a leather coat factory. She was the first African-American woman to work as a surveyor for the city of Los Angeles. She worked for a chemical company in Los Angeles and she retired after many years working at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard. Hazel was a loving, energetic and outgoing person who loved and enjoyed life. She loved and was dedicated to her children. Her grandchildren brought her great joy and shared a special place in her heart. Hazel enjoyed many hobbies including sewing, gardening, traveling, and photography. She was very active even as her health declined. She was blessed with good friends and was especially thankful for the support of Mary and Vern Nelson, Susan Sanders-Kinzel, Pastor Jamie Greening, and many others who helped her in her time of need. She had the determination and desire, but God needed to pluck one of His flowers from His garden, and Hazel was the one He chose. Hazel Laurant (daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, friend) leaves to cherish her homegoing: her parents Samuel and Pinkie McGee; her grandmother Mabel Cammon; her husband Glendell Laurant; two daughters Vertesia Olson and her husband Ture Olson and Lydia Laurant; one son Glendell Laurant, Jr.; five grandchildren, Michael, Desiree, Cedric, Darion, and Jonas; three sisters, Anita McGee, Deborah McGee, and Alethea Edwards and her husband Norman; two brothers Samuel McGee and his wife Jozine, and Darius McGee and his wife Elaine; a great uncle Boyces Washington; 5 uncles; 3 aunts; 6 nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends. A service honoring her life will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2003, 10:00AM, at the First Baptist Church, 2308 Sidney Ave, Port Orchard, WA 98366. A burial will follow at Sunset Lane Memorial Park also in Port Orchard. Memorial donations can be made to the Children's Ministries c/o First Baptist Church. The family of Hazel Laurant wishes to acknowledge, with deep appreciation, the many comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers and many other expressions of kindness and concern displayed at this time in thought and deed.