Hazel Keith Arnold, 97 years old, widow of Paul Thompson Arnold of Creedmoor, NC, left her earthly body behind on Saturday, July 29, 2017. She was born on April 30, 1920, the oldest of seven children of Hubert R. and Lucy Etheridge Keith. She is survived by daughters Gayle A. Champion along with much-loved son-in-law Clifton A. Champion of Creedmoor, and Paulette K. Arnold of Ukiah, California; beloved grandson Jeffrey Alan Champion also of Ukiah; brother and sister-in-law Joe and Imogene Keith of Creedmoor and numerous extended family. Her granddaughter, Amy Katharine Champion, met her at heaven’s gate.

Hazel was born and lived in Creedmoor her entire life, leaving for the first time in July 1942 to travel by bus to Texas where she married Pvt. Paul Arnold. She was an active lifetime member of Fellowship Baptist Church, having accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 9. During those years, she served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, choir member, church custodian and president of the flower committee responsible for seeing there were fresh flowers in the sanctuary each Sunday, many of which came from her own extensive garden. In recent years, Hazel especially enjoyed the fellowship meals and family gatherings of the church. Many thanks to those of you who provided the dishes she so much enjoyed, both at church and at home.

Hazel and Paul were schooled in being thrifty and recycling during the Great Depression and World War II. Those practices served them well their entire lives. Hazel worked hard beside Paul on the tobacco farm and at home -- growing and preserving food, milking the cow, churning butter, and slaughtering hogs. She loved to make homemade ice cream the old-fashioned way. She also loved to be creative, piecing and quilting over fifty quilts and crocheting hundreds of afghans and baby hats which she donated to Haitian orphans.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at the Eakes Funeral Chapel in Creedmoor by Rev. Dan Hill and Rev. Buddy Ritter. Burial will follow in Carolina Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held August 1, 2017, 12:30-2 p.m., at Eakes Funeral Home, and at other times at the home.

Flowers or contributions to Fellowship Baptist Church, 1512 Beaver Dam Road, Creedmoor NC 27522, or Duke HomeCare & Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Drive in Durham are appreciated.