Hazel May Watson Swilley

Hazel May Watson Swilley, 90, of Crossett, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026.  She was born February 25, 1936, in Vick, Arkansas, to Calvin Green and Eva Sue (Hamilton) May.

She moved to Crossett in the seventh grade and remained deeply connected to her roots, faithfully attending Vick School reunions for decades where she cherished time with lifelong friends and family. She shared a special bond with her sister, Carolyn, and together they were well known for their silly, slippery Scattergories games with grown children after Thanksgiving feasts at the Pond House, a tradition filled with laughter, quick wit, and just enough mischief. Hazel was well known for running the store at Lake Georgia Pacific for many years alongside her husband, James . With her smart sunshades and sun dresses, she greeted fishermen and visitors while keeping a close eye on everything from behind her sewing machine . A prolific seamstress, she stitched while she worked and ran a tight ship. You dipped your own minnows on her watch, and if you teased her with a granddaddy long legs, you might find yourself locked out for the rest of the day. Feisty, funny, and sometimes outspoken, she had a spirited personality and you always knew where you stood with her.

After retiring from the lake, she and James returned to the home they had built together in the Pugh/Crossroads community. She later began her next chapter as a bank teller at First National Bank of Crossett. She later married her second love, Norman Swilley, and they shared years filled with laughter, adventures, and his unforgettable wild stories. She remained active in her faith and community, including lifelong membership in the Crossroads Good Neighbors Club and First Baptist Church of Crossett. Her strong faith carried her and her family through her journey with Parkinsonism.

She is preceded in death by her husband of forty-four years, James Turner Watson and husband of seventeen years, Norman O. Swilley.

She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Sue Dixon (Johnny); children, Sharon Watson Wright and James Michael "Mike" Watson and wife Rebecca "Becky"; grandchildren, Anna Claire Craig (Coilin), Dakota Watson (Jamie), and Gabriel Wright; great-grandchildren, Eloise James, Everly Olivia, Ezra Turner Craig, and Theodore James "Teddy" Watson; sisters-in-law Billie Sue Watson and Mary Sue Watson and many beloved extended family members and dear friends.

The family extends special thanks to Hospice Home Care of Monticello, Audrey's Special Home, and Ashley County Medical Center for their compassionate care and support.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 8th, at Pugh Cemetery under the direction of Medders Funeral Home, with her nephews, David Wesson and Josh Cunningham, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pugh Cemetery for upkeep, c/o Mike Watson, 2754 Ashley 12 W, Crossest, AR 71635.
 

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