Hazel Marie Crews Burleson passed peacefully at her daughter’s home in Benbrook, Texas on July 4, 2023. Hazel was born April 14, 1938, to James Franklin (Shorty) and Dorthy Mae Crews in Camden, Arkansas. At the age of 7 she and her family moved to west Texas where her father began working in the Texas oilfields. She met a handsome Marine and became Mrs. J. D. (Jay) Burleson, Jr on January 26, 1954. They were married for 49 years until his passing in 2003. Jay and Hazel worked together to operate Burleson Dental Lab, first in Odessa, Texas and later, in 1966, in Jacksonville, Texas. She retired from the business after her diagnosis for cancer in 2011, when she moved to her daughter’s home in Benbrook, Texas to receive medical treatment. She accepted life in the city (Fort Worth), but her heart stayed in the piney woods of East Texas. Services will be held at Boren-Conner Funeral Home at 10:00 am on Friday, July 7th with visitation Thursday evening from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband J.D. Burleson, Jr., parents Shorty & Dorthy Crews, sister Frances Randolph, brother Ralph Crews, grandson Brian Paul Reese, great-grandson Matthew Barron, and her beloved poodles Tooter and Buster. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Karla Reese and husband Richard of Benbrook, Texas; son Michael Burleson and wife Louise of Jacksonville, Texas; Grandchildren Jennifer Reese of Fort Worth, Texas; Jason Reese and wife Kristin of Nacogdoches, Texas; Jennifer Barron and husband Jerry of Tyler, Texas; Joseph Shark and wife Carli of Lombard, Illinois; Great-Grandchildren Hannah, Abigail, and Heidi Reese, Brianna Barron, Caitlyn Barron, Daxton Barron; and two great-great grandchildren; sister-in-Law Beverly Burleson Slagle of Raleigh, North Carolina; many nieces, nephews, and life-long friends!
Hazel loved her Lord, her family, her friends, and her fur babies. Life was difficult after her cancer treatment, but she never showed anything but gratitude for the people in her life. Throughout her illness and treatments Hazel and the family had many helping friends that are considered family – among them Brenda Grisham, Dana Wyatt, and Jace Reeder were always ready to give her support and rides to medical offices.
She loved a cup of coffee, a bowl of ice cream, and old tv shows. The twinkle in her eye was there to the end.
By 
