Hazel Chernoski, 92, of West Plains, Missouri, passed away on Monday, July 26, 2021. Hazel was born October 3, 1928, to Charles and Gertrude (Gabie) Bookstaver in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

She graduated from Hastings High School in 1946, and worked at the Metropolitan Bank in New York City, prior to her marriage in 1948 to Stanley Chernoski. Hazel became a homemaker and the loving mother to three children, Charles, Barbara, and Elizabeth.

As Stanley was a career Marine, the family moved to different bases around the United States during the years of service; then settled in Pennsylvania where he retired in 1964. Hazel always spoke very fondly of being a "Marine Corps Wife" and enjoyed those years while raising their family.

Hazel was involved in a variety of activities throughout her life. She competed at roller skating, was a Girl Scout leader, skied while living in the Catskill Mountains in New York, and took up tennis after moving to Florida. She was very proud of being selected for the "A" team and played the game until the age of 85. She was a reader and worked on crossword puzzles. She and Stan were also avid square dancers. While in her 60s, Hazel earned an A.A. degree from Manatee Community College.

She crocheted beautiful afghans, however, her specialty became frogs. Through the years she had given away over 500 of them to children directly, or to anyone remotely connected to a child.

As life quieted down and her mind began to drift, Hazel enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles, word searches, and she liked to sit on the porch and watch the birds. The family cat sought her out to be rocked and sung to. She loved to watch Lawrence Welk on Saturday evenings with a nip of cream sherry while clapping and singing along to the Big Band sounds of her generation. She was a sweet, caring lady and will be greatly missed by her family.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Stanley in 2017, after sixty-nine years of marriage; one daughter, Barbara in 2012; and her only sibling, Charles in 2019.

Hazel is survived by her children, Charles and Elizabeth; grandchildren, John, Lindsay, Jesse, and Cory; in-laws, Jim, Makayla, Shani, and Paula; and great-grandchildren, Julian, Allison, and Ava; nieces, Lenora and Mari; nephews, Al and Sean; and cousins, Bob, Susan, Donna, and Jim.

Cremation arrangements were made under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.