Hazel Marie Tisdale

Hazel Marie Tisdale of Asheville, 93, passed away on June 12, 2018, at the Madison Health and Rehabilitation facility in Mars Hill. Ms. Tisdale had been in declining health over the past year. True to her personality, she fought hard to cling to the life she loved so much, until the very end. Hazel was born in 1925 in Harlan, KY, to William “Willie” and Martha Osborne Mason. She was a coal miner’s daughter that began her life in NC in 1939 when, at age 14, she moved to Hot Springs to attend the Dorland-Bell School for girls. While attending, the school was closed and merged with the Asheville Farm School, to form the Warren H. Wilson Vocational Junior College (now Warren Wilson College), where she completed her education. During her lifetime, Ms. Tisdale was employed as a beautician, realtor, bank teller and, during World War II, an airplane riveter in Baltimore, MD. What Hazel loved most was her family, home, and anything that involved interacting with people. She had a special place in her heart for all creatures great and small, and great compassion for anyone needing help. In addition, she enjoyed the simple things in life: a cup of coffee, sitting on the porch, reading the paper, taking a hike, Old Milwaukee with Doritos, petting the cat, riding in a car, listening to music, dancing and singing. She will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Mutz Tisdale; her daughter, Patricia Ann Miller; and her three siblings, Jimmy, Bill and Margaret. She is survived by her son, Lawrence Miller (Shelley Hoogstraten-Miller), of Asheville, NC. The family will host an open house for friends to drop by and share a memory of Hazel on Saturday, June 23, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at 61 Pinedale Road in Asheville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Madison Health and Rehabilitation Activities Department, Attention April Hamby - Activities Director, 345 Manor Road, Mars Hill, NC 28754. Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the family.