Hazel “Gladys” Roberts passed away peacefully in Wheatland, Wyoming a home she shared with her sister, Carol Zedekar, on Monday, April 8, 2024.
She was born in Hays, Kansas to Edmund and Pearl (Kippes) Leiker, the oldest of four sisters.
A faithful Hays High School Indian and marching band majorette, Hazel cherished and maintained the bonds created in her early years.
On October 18, 1958, swept off her feet by ‘the man of her dreams’, she married Marvin Roberts and started a family in Kansas. A few years later, they moved to the suburbs of Denver, Colorado and continued to grow their family to six sons and one daughter. In 1970, they suffered the loss of their oldest son Mark to Leukemia, shortly after welcoming their youngest son, Brad.
Hazel often said her life with Marvin was a great adventure. Taking them to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, Utah, and eventually back to where it all began - Kansas, when Marvin was laid to rest in 2008. Their travels included nearly every state and life together included family, racing, shooting, busses, classic cars, golf, and a myriad of successful small businesses. As Marvin’s biggest fan and steadfastly devoted partner, Hazel was all in. Making sure the family thrived, she was the beautiful glue that held it all together.
Hazel returned to Wyoming in 2010 and has enjoyed creating beautiful artwork, gardening, spending time with friends, her sisters, her children, and welcoming great-grandchildren into the family.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband; son, Mark; parents; and two of her three sisters, Ann Augustine and Ruth Howard.
She is survived by her sister, Carol Zedaker; six of her seven children, Dale Roberts, Linda Finnerty, Jim Roberts, Mike Roberts, Kurt Roberts, Brad Roberts, their spouses; grand and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held in Wheatland, at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church with Father Hiep Nguyen as the celebrant.
All friends and family are welcome for a celebration of Hazel’s life on Friday, May 10 at 1:00 P.M. at the Veterans Cemetery in WaKeeney, Kansas where she will be laid to rest with her beloved Marvin.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Hartville, Wyoming would be appreciated. kindnessranch.org
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.