Hazel L. Gray

Hazel Louise Gray, 95, of Carmel, went home to be with her Lord Thursday, January 5, 2023.  Hazel was born April 23, 1927 in Lake Arthur, LA to the late Eugene L. and Mamie Ora Paysee.  She was a graduate of McDonogh High School in New Orleans, LA.  She had an interesting early childhood, during the great depression, as the daughter of a nomadic traveling dentist.  While living in a handmade trailer with her father, mother and two sisters, they serviced patients while traveling from town to town and mining for gold along the way.

While working as an accountant’s assistant at Mineweld Company, she displayed her excellent work ethic and talent for numbers for many years.  After retirement she was a volunteer at St. Vincent Carmel where she was always exhibiting her love for others and her servants heart.  She was also the hospitality hostess at Wickliff & Associates Auctioneers for several years where the sign on the door read “Hazel’s Hospitality Room”.  As noted by an author for Indianapolis Woman magazine, Hazel was the epitome of southern hospitality.  To her family and friends, she was known for reaching out to people in need, sharing her home on many occasions during special times and holidays.

Hazel was the widow of Robert (Bob) K. Gray, a retired Indiana State Police Major, and her “knight in shining armor”.  They were inseparable, enjoyed humor and could light up a room by their presence. She is survived by her daughters, Beth (husband, Rick, deceased) Syphers and Sue (husband, Dion) Wickliff; grandchildren, Matt (wife, Rachel) Beauchamp, and Tom Williams; great grandchildren Jacob and Maggie Beauchamp, Tom Williams and Erica (husband, Tyler) Moore; sisters, Ursule Panek and Dolores Schultz.

Family and friends are invited to gather from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Thursday, January 12 at Flanner Buchanan, Carmel, 325 E. Carmel Dr., where her funeral service will begin at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Neighborhood Fellowship, 3102 E. 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN  46201. Please visit www.flannerbuchanan.com to sign the online guest register.