Hazel Vacura, 77

Hazel Marie (Mildren) Vacura, our beloved Mom, Gramma, Sister, Aunt and friend began her next journey on April 23, 2025 from Florence, OR. 

Hazel was born to Irene and Orville Mildren on Feb. 7, 1948 in Kalispell. When Hazel was one, the family moved to Plains, where she was raised along with her two sisters, Nancy and Lucille. 

Hazel graduated from PHS in 1966 and attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, Wash. She fell in love with Warren Vacura and they eloped on Jan. 25, 1968 before he was deployed to Vietnam. When he returned from his tour, they lived on the Air Force base in North Carolina for his final year in service. Then they moved to Kalispell for two years before returning to Plains where he was in business with his father at Vacura Motors. 

During that time, Hazel was the bookkeeper. She was also involved with the local VFW ladies auxiliary and the United Methodist Church, including a love of church camp that she introduced to others. 

Their family was blessed with three daughters; Janice, Trisha and Diana. Warren passed away in 1983, after losing a 10-month battle with cancer. 

Three years later, in 1986, Hazel and the girls moved to Florence, Ore., to be near the ocean. They immediately found a strong sense of community, including her beloved United Methodist Church family where she was involved in UMW, Covenant Group/PALS, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Lay Leader, Lay Member to Annual Conference, and many other leadership roles over the past 39 years. She was a founding volunteer of the Florence Free Lunch program and active in PEO. 

Being a mom was her pride and joy. She loved being at all of the girls' sporting and band events. As a grandma it was the same, always there cheering them on. She never let an opportunity pass to let them all know how much she loved them. 

Hazel was a talented seamstress and knitter, an avid reader, and she loved crossword puzzles. She earned a living by sometimes working multiple jobs including bookkeeping, managing a small retail shop, and owning her own small business. 

She has been described as kind, loving, generous, the Methodist caregiver (as she often went to the hospital to sit with others), thoughtful, patient, and brave. 

Hazel is survived by her daughters Janice (Ken) Gormley, Trisha (Jon) Holden, Diana (Jeff) Michna, grandchildren Garrison and Allison Gormley, Lainey and Alex Goss, Laureli and Jesse Holden, Gwen and Laurel Michna, sisters Nancy (Bill) Chalgren, Lucille (Ron) Walters, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

A memorial service will be held in Florence, Ore. in May. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Free Lunch Program of Florence UMC.