God reached down and silently took Hazel I. Pauley, 95, home with Him to Heaven on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 from her home. The Angels sang “Welcome Home Good and Faithful Servant”.

Hazel was born March 25, 1921 on the family farm between Shiloh and Mt. Olympus, Indiana, the youngest child of Herschel and Alda (Ford) Thompson. She had an older brother and sister.

She was a farm girl where she raised cattle, hogs and sheep; raised a vegetable garden and drove the grain trucks to the elevators in Hazleton and Princeton. She graduated from high school at Mt. Olympus.

She married Henry (Shorty) Pauley in her senior year of school in 1938. Their son, Larry Joe Pauley, was born a year later.

She was the first President of the PTA and organized the first school lunch program in 1945. She was the first President of the Shiloh-Union Bethel Home Economics Club. She also helped with 4H and all the activities their son participated in while he was growing up. In 1957 when Larry started High School, Hazel went back to school to finish up her high school credits and she and Larry graduated together in May 1957. When Larry left for college she took her first job outside the family home and went to work for the Department of Agriculture in Princeton where she worked for over 16 years. She then worked in the County Auditor’s Office for over 13 years and retired in June 1987. In 1991 she was elected to the Princeton City Council and served 2 terms. She was a member of Habitat for Humanity for 4 years; a charter member of the Eagles Auxiliary #361; a 50+ year member of the Order of Eastern Star; a life member of Beta Sigma Phi; a loyal member of the Democrat party; and she is a member of the Gibson County Democrat Women’s Club. Hazel is a member of the Broadway Christian Church where she was currently a deacon and actively participated in the Be Our Guest Ministry. She participated in all the fundraising activities and anytime something was going on in the kitchen, she was there. She loved attending family reunions and she loved life. Hazel lived a simple but beautiful life enriching all those with whom she came in contact. She lived with kindness, compassion, and with quiet and unassuming dignity. Her life was a testimony to the amazing and strong woman that she was and she loved unconditionally and selflessly as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and Christian.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents Herschel and Alda (Ford) Thompson; her loving husband of 57 years Henry (Shorty) Miller Pauley in 1995; her brother Edwin Thompson and her sister, Lois (Thompson) Nelson.

She is survived by her son whom she loved with all her heart, Larry Joe Pauley, of Princeton; 2 grandsons, Hans Pauley of St. Petersburg, FL and William Henry Miller Pauley III of Charles Town, West Virginia; a great grandson Jackson Pauley and a great granddaughter Kennedy Pauley. She is also survived by her nephews Jerry (Becky) Nelson and Harlan (Dorothee) Nelson; and her nieces Martha Thompson, Joyce (Mike) Holmes, Edwina (Lee) McConnell; and Kenita Kersten. She is also survived by many cousins and friends. She loved them all.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton with Rev. John Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery near Hazleton, IN.

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 PM on Friday, June 3, 2016 at the funeral home. Beta Sigma Phi Memorial Services will be conducted at 7PM on Friday evening.