(born PCVA, parents were: Jefferson Pack & Annie Lee Johnson)

KING ~ Hazel Pack Kirby Sept. 21, 1926 ~ Sept. 18, 2011 Hazel Pack Kirby, 84, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Priddy Manor Assisted Living in King, NC from complications due to Alzheimer's.

While born in Virginia on September 21, 1926, she spent her adult life in King as wife to Claude R. Kirby, who died in 2005. They were married for 61 years.

Hazel was well known around King for being very outgoing; she liked to joke, laugh and really helped others. Highlights of her week were the Bingo party at McDonald's, morning coffee klatches at King Drug, going to Recreation Acres, YMCA, and trips to Cana for scratch-offs. Her special enjoyment was Bluegrass and she loved to go with friends to country music dances anywhere and anytime. Hazel also enjoyed "running around" with Barbara Robertson, her niece and good friend. She was a loving mother and grandmother, and a caring aunt to her nieces and nephews. Hazel's Alzheimer's limited her normal activities for the past 10 years; she became less able to tend to herself and became a resident of Priddy Manor last year. Prior to her illness she was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in King.

In addition to her husband, Hazel was preceded in death by her brothers, William, Lester, and Herbert Pack and two sisters, Maeola Thomas and Naomi Bowman.

She is survived by one daughter, Bonnie Kirby of Winston-Salem; one son, Barry Kirby of King; one granddaughter, Heather (Eric) McKay, and one great-grandson, Declan McKay of Winston-Salem. In addition, she is survived by three sisters-in-law, Terry Pack of Tucson, AZ, Ulva Vogler and Audrey Kirby both of Winston-Salem.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2011 in the Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery with Lamar Tillman, Min. officiating. There will be no formal visitation but the body may be viewed from 12 to 5 p.m. today at Slate Funeral Home in King. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Western Carolina Alzheimer's Association at 1315 Ashleybrook Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to Hospice and Palliative Care Center at 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. The family would also like to extend their appreciation to the staff of Priddy Manor who provided Hazel with continued kindness, comfort and entertainment over the past year, and to Hospice who made her life easier over the past few weeks.

Published in Winston-Salem Journal on September 19, 2011