Our beloved Hazel passed away at home on June 30, 2008, at the age of 90 years. She was born in Kansas City, Miss., on April 12, 1918, and at the age of six weeks, she became the adopted daughter of Robert and Olvia Erbe. She was raised in Great Bend, Kan., where she attended schools and met the love of her life, Warren. They later married and moved to the north coast and eventually settled in Humboldt County in 1953.

They became co-founders of Customer Truck Service in 1958 and, with their partners, operated the trucking company for 20 years before retiring. Hazel remained active in the business until 2001. She was also very active in several charitable organizations in the community.

She is survived by her stepdaughter, Rita Atkinson of Neodesha, Kan.; grandchildren, John Hamby and Pete Hamby both of Soledad, Calif., and Ray Hamby of Redding, Calif. She is also survived by her special family Nyle and Diane Henderson, Kenneth and Judith Stoffer and their children and grand/great-grand children plus her special friends Dorothy McPhearson, Mildred Wingfield and Quinta Genovali.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Warren Erbe, Bonnie and Bill Reece, and her grandchildren Bonnie and Howard Hamby.

Services for Hazel were held on Monday, July 7, 2008, at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 819 15th Street, Eureka with a reception immediately following.

Private family interment will be held later.

Although flowers are so welcome, and she loved receiving them, Hazel would be so honored for any memorial contributions made to a charity of your choice, or you may consider one of her favorites, Hospice of Humboldt, or the building fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka.

Arrangements are under the care of Pierce Mortuary, 707 H Street, Eureka, CA.