Hazel Anita Richards

Hazel Anita (McWilliams) Richards

February 16, 1923 – February 20, 2023

Hazel Anita Richards of Lindsay went home to be with her Lord on February 20, 2023, four days after celebrating 100 years of life on this earth. 

Hazel was born in Riverside, California on February 16, 1923, the fifth of seven children of Lizzie (Ables) and Ray Wesley McWilliams. 

Hazel married young and brought five sons into the world.  She later married Charles William “Bill” Richards in 1954 and had three daughters.  She was a member of the Exeter Seventh-Day Adventist Church and also attended the Lindsay Seventh-Day Adventist Church where she was a cherished member of her church family.

She was employed for a time as a Deputy Justice Court Clerk and, in later years, a Certified Nursing Assistant (taking care of “old people”—many of whom were younger than she).  But for most of her years she was a stay-at-home Mom who focused on her home and children, including teaching her daughters to set a proper table as all lace-curtain Irish should. She loved to laugh and be silly and sing while doing her daily chores.

Hazel is survived by two sons, Steve (Vickie) Boggess of Toledo, Washington, and John (Brigitta) Boggess of Exeter California, and three daughters, Genoa Ingram (Robert Burg), Luana Leavens (Paul), and Ida DeClerque (Morgan), and her sister Vera Louise Kauffman of Apple Valley, California.  She is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Richards, and sons Edward Lee Boggess, Giles Ray Boggess, Lonnie Allen Boggess, and Marlon Laure Carter.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to any Seventh-Day Adventist Church or your favorite animal shelter.

Private family services to be held at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hazel Anita Richards, please visit our floral store.