Hazel Irene Graham, 93, passed away Wednesday, April 17, in Chandler, Arizona, in the comfort of her loving daughter and devoted son-in-law's home after a brief illness.

Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2026, Biggers Funeral Chapel

Interment: following service at Greenwood Memorial Park

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Hazel's honor to the Alzheimer's Association. www.alz.org

Up until her final days, Hazel filled every room with laughter and brought a smile to everyone she met. Her beautiful blue-green eyes would light up like a Christmas tree, reflecting her joyful spirit and kind heart.

She was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi on February 5, 1933, to George and Mattie Wise, the youngest of seven children. Hazel attended Lone Star and Pinedale Schools, where she was a member of the girls' basketball team. She later married her high school sweetheart, Robert Ladean Graham, and together they moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

There, she began her career and eventually retired from NAPA Genuine Parts Company.

In her earlier years, Hazel enjoyed water skiing and camping with family and friends. Later, she and her husband discovered a shared passion for ballroom dancing. She loved dressing for the occasion and always made a graceful entrance on the dance floor. Hazel also loved to travel and enjoyed many trips with her husband, especially those centered around Big Band music. Together with their daughter and son-in-law, they traveled to Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Nevada, Arizona and other destinations, creating cherished memories along the way.

After the passing of her husband, Hazel relocated to Chandler, Arizona, where she lived at The Gardens of Ocotillo. She remained fiercely independent until the last ten months of her life, when she transitioned to memory care.

She is survived by her son, Robert Graham (Anita); her daughter, Sandy Taylor (Brad); her grandchildren, Rob Graham, Nick Graham, and Kristin Howard (Rob); and her great-grandchildren, Robert Josiah Graham, Jacob Ryker Graham, and Olivia Leigh Graham.

Hazel was preceded in death by her beloved husband; her parents; her brothers, James Wise, Lloyd Wise, and Junior Wise; and her sisters, Ethel Wray, Verna Baker, and Loyce McCarver.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.