Hazel C. Whitaker Gourlay, 78, of Hilliard

Hazel C. Whitaker Gourlay, age 78 of Hilliard, went home to be with the Lord February 11, 2011 at her home.

She was born April 25, 1932 to the late John Robert and Cathrine Elizabeth (Sherbourne) Ingram.

She was also preceded in death by her late husband and father of her children, Eugene Lawrence Whitaker, who passed away in 1971. She married David Gourlay in 1984 and they were married until his death in 2006.

Hazel was a charter member of the Maranatha Baptist Church in Columbus and a 20-year and current member of Riverside Bible Church in Columbus. She retired from Southwestern City Schools where she taught art at Georgesville and Kingston Schools. She was an accomplished and talented artist and enjoyed gardening and raising animals.

Hazel was a beloved mother and is survived by her children, Patricia (John) Conant, Grove City; Catherine (Dean) Unger, Largo, Florida; David (Denise) Whitaker, San Francisco, California; Stephen (Shirley) Whitaker, Prospect; Laura Whitaker, Paradise, California; and step-children, Jeffrey (Sharon) Gourlay, Lancaster; Deborah (Greg) Cox, San Diego, California; 20 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life services will be held Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 12:30 PM in the Riverside Bible Church, 5330 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH  43235 with Pastor Arthur Crawford officiating.  Private family burial will take place at Union Cemetery.  In keeping with Hazel’s wishes, there will be no public calling hours.

Memorial gifts may be made to Community Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 45, Prospect, OH  43342. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com

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