Obituary of Hazel Ransom

Hazel Thelma Ransom, age 99, passed away in Hugo, CO on December 30, 2014. Hazel was born in Greensburg, KS on January 23, 1915 to Roy and Laura Hope (Vierson) Ratliff. She had one older sister, Jessie, and a younger brother, Gerald. The family moved to Oregon when Hazel was around five years old and the girls attended school there. After some time the family decided to move back to Kansas so they said goodbye to Hope’s parents and she and Gerald took the train back to Kansas. Roy, Jessie and Hazel drove the family car and their belongings back home and enjoyed the adventure of camping trips on the way. During school Hazel was active in school clubs and was editor of a girls’ publication. She also attended various church camps. After graduating with honors from High School she went to secretarial school and then became a telephone operator in Greensburg. In 1945 Hazel moved to Denver to begin work as a secretary with the Colorado Christian Home for half orphans. Hazel loved being around the children and many of them became family to her. She took them to her parents’ farm in Genoa, CO and visited many parks. She had lots of experience with children, as when she was younger both her and her sister stayed with families in town in exchange for helping with the children and household chores so they could attend school. They enjoyed spending time with their parents and brother on the weekends. Hazel married Don Ransom on January 29, 1960 in Denver, Colorado and they spent many wonderful years together until his passing in 1999. They lived on their farm south of Matheson until October 31, 1971 when they retired from farming and moved to their home in Limon, Colorado. Hazel was an accomplished pianist. She enjoyed riding horses, watching baseball with her husband, Don, sewing for herself and Don, knitting and cake baking. She always teased when she would forget something that “there’s so much up there, it’s falling off the shelf”. Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, Roy & Laura Hope Ratlff, her husband, Don Ransom, her sister, Jessie, and her brother, Gerald. She is survived by her niece, Gloria Kathleen Courtney, nephew Cliff Ransom, John D. Ransom and several other nieces and nephews.