Obituary of Evelyn Hazel Freehe

Hazel Evelyn Blackadder Knoblauch Freehe Was born in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada, on August 21, l914 to U.S.-born parents, William Andrew Blackadder and Julia Carlson Blackadder; she held dual citizenship. She was the eldest child of a family of five. In Saskatchewan, her family helped her grandmother, Emma Olson Carlson, run a boarding house mainly for men working in the area. Due to the sub-zero temperatures, her mother Julia insisted they move, so in 1924, her dad settled their family in Sumner, Washington. Her dad, William Blackadder, became a building contractor, and before the Depression hit in 1929, he won a government contract to build radio towers in various places in the United States. For a short time, she lived in Wichita, Kansas, Clinton, Iowa, and attended school in Albany, New York, and on Independence Island, near Boston. In the summer of 1930, the government terminated that contract so they made a slow road trip home stopping to visit relatives and friends on the way, and going to some National Parks, such as Niagara Falls and Yellowstone. Her dad also built locally; he built the now torn-down "brick" Sumner High School, replaced by the present Sumner High School, and various public buildings, such as the Liberty Theater in Puyallup, several stores still standing in the now "historic" part of downtown Sumner, and the present-day Auburn High School, which has been added onto. He also built some buildings on nearby-by military bases, as well as many homes in the Sumner-Puyallup area. Hazel was among the first class of students to graduate in 1932 from the new "brick" Sumner High School;during high school,she enjoyed playing sports,especially basketball. After graduation, she worked at several jobs and then married Clayton Bernard Knoblauch on July 15, 1935. Clayton worked at various jobs, but after his mother died in l945, they ended up living and farming on some Knoblauch family land, growing mainly rhubarb and berries. They had one child, Carol Lynn Knoblauch Cammel, born on January 15, 1938. On February 2, 1965, Clayton died unexpectedly of a heart attack, and she was left in charge of getting in the crops. She also worked for the Sumner Valley Rhubarb Association as a bookkeeper. Three years after Clayton's death, she met and then married Cliff Lawrence Freehe on October 5, 1968. Cliff was the head of photography for all of the health sciences at the University of Washington. He was renowned in the field of dental photography. He studied under well-known photographer, Ansel Adams. Cliff traveled extensively to give lectures in his field. After a long illness, due to an injury, Cliff died in 1995. Hazel was most proud of being among the early settlers of Sumner. She attended most Sumner City Council meetings until the last few years, but she always tried to watch them on TV. She contributed the three flag poles, located in the gazebo park in downtown Sumner; the flag poles are dedicated to her dad, and her two husbands. She held original stock in the Puyallup Fair, and enjoyed going to their meetings and other gatherings. For some years, she chaired or served on her local water district committee, as she wanted the drainage to be correct on the back of her property. Hazel was also proud of the fact that she had two happy, successful marriages, each which lasted about 25 years. She loved shopping for a bargain, and was a wonderful knitter. In her younger days, she enjoyed dancing, playing golf and participating in the area's social life. Hazel was known for being a forthright person who did not hesitate to tell the truth as she saw it or give her opinion and let the chips fall where they may. She was a daily reader of local newspapers, and kept up on national news. She was mentally alert until right before her death of congestive heart failure at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, on Monday, May 2, 2011. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her brother, George Blackadder, and her sister Wylma Jean Blackaddder Hodgins. Still living are her sisters Edna Blackadder Jackson, of Oswego, Oregon, and Vera Blackadder Zydek, of Sumner, Washington. Daughter Carol Lynn, of Sumner, has two children: Michael Jay Cammel, and Suzanne Lynn Cammel Conway Rawlings, both of Puyallup. She has four great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She has a large extended family, most of whom live nearby. Hazel requested a graveside service for family members only; however, relatives and friends are welcome to drop by the residence of her nephew, Bob Hodgins, at 4818 Lakeridge Dr., Lake Tapps, WA 98391 from 12:30 to 3:30 Saturday afternoon, May 6th. Visitation Hours are Friday, May 6, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Curnow Funeral Home, Sumner. Contributions may be made in her memory to the Sumner-Bonney Lake Education Foundation, Sumner School District, 1202 Wood Avenue, Sumner, WA 98390. We will miss you, Hazel we enjoyed hearing your stories, and are taking what wisdom we can from your very full life.