Hazel Taylor Horton

Hazel Taylor Horton, born on July 13, 1923 in Danville, VA, passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on September 21, 2024, in Columbia, Maryland. Hazel and her twin sister, Helen, were the youngest children of their parents Flournoy and Jennie Taylor. Hazel's life was marked by resilience, having grown up as a Depression-era child, but was fortunate in that her father owned a small coal and wood business and could provide the minimum essentials for the family. Unfortunately, at age 9, Hazel's mother died suddenly and left her and her twin to be raised by her father and a neighbor, Mary Tinder, who became a boarder in the family home.

Upon graduating from Danville’s George Washington High School in 1941, Hazel and Helen both worked briefly in the local cotton mill. At age 19, they moved to Washington D.C. to seek work in support of the war effort. Hazel landed an entry level job at the Army Security Agency where she met her future husband First Lieutenant, USAF, John "Jack" Horton. Hazel and Jack were married on May 31,1952 in the chapel at Ft. Myer, Virginia.

Hazel gave birth to two boys: John, Jr in 1953 and Mark in 1955. Hazel and Jack moved from Arlington, VA to Broomall, PA for a short time but returned to Fairfax , VA in late 1955. Hazel stopped working for several years to raise her children but returned to work part-time in the mid-1960s. In 1967, the family moved to Laurel, MD. She began working full-time in 1971 at the Defense Logistics Agency in Alexandria, VA. She retired from there in 1993 as a Supervisory Technical Information Specialists.

Sadly, in 1975, Hazel’s husband of nearly 23 years died suddenly of a heart attack at age 50. Hazel was left alone to raise her boys and handle all family affairs from that day on. She put her two boys through college, worked full-time, managed her home, and took care of everything necessary to maintain a household. Tragedy struck again in 1999 when her son John died of pancreatic cancer at age 45. It was during these times that her resilience and ability to adapt and thrive began to shine. Throughout her life, and probably because of her upbringing, Hazel was frugal and never exhibited an extravagant lifestyle. She became an avid investor in the stock market and became well versed in all aspects of the financial markets. She studied the tax codes and did her own taxes until her early 90s.

Hazel loved to play bridge throughout her entire adult life. She organized and/or participated in multiple bridge groups in the Laurel/Columbia area. She also loved watching her boys play sports from the time they were children through college. She loved to read, particularly non-fiction, until her eyesight diminished. Hazel was a charter member of St. George's United Methodist Church in Fairfax, VA, and a former member of the Laurel Presbyterian Church in Laurel, MD.

Hazel lived on her own until she moved, in 2015, into a senior continuing care living facility in Columbia, MD, where she remained until her death.

Hazel is survived by her son Mark Taylor Horton and his wife Lori Ann (Grimes) of Laurel MD, granddaughter Jaclyn Elise Horton of Laurel MD, grandson Matthew Taylor Horton and his wife Briana (Hicks) of Severn MD, daughter-in-law Lue Anne (Spratt) Horton of Madison WV, granddaughter Jillian Leigh Horton of Madison WV, and great-grandchildren Paxton, Andrew, Riley, and Landon. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Leon (Aliff) Miller, Dorothy (Aliff) Ransohoff, Otis Taylor, and Helen (Taylor) Cancilla, husband John Harold Horton, Sr., and son John Harold Horton, Jr.

A private family memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations in support of her granddaughter, Jaclyn, to the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Contributions can be sent to nnpdf@nnpdf.org or P.O. Box 49, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0049.

Arrangements are under the care of Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A., 313 Talbott Ave, Laurel, MD 20707. Hazel's life was marked by her resilience and dedication to family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

This obituary was lovingly written and submitted by the family of Hazel Taylor Horton.

National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation
P.O. Box 49, Fort Atkinson WI 53538-0049
Email: nnpdf@nnpdf.org