Mrs. Hazel Lee Fisher Epting

Hazel Lee Fisher Epting, 81, of Salisbury, entered the Church Triumphant on Saturday, May 9, 2015. A native of Salisbury, Hazel was the daughter of Hoy Lee and Ethel Hedrick Fisher. She was educated at Henderson Elementary School and was a 1951 graduate of Boyden High School, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society. In 1955, she received a B.S. degree in secretarial administration from Women’s College of Greensboro (now UNCG), where she was a member of Gamma Alpha and Sigma Alpha business associations. One of her first jobs was with the South Carolina Forestry Commission while her husband Jim was stationed at Fort Jackson. In Salisbury, she served as finance director for Tri-County Mental Health, and was on the advisory board for the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union. In 1987, she and Linda Trevey opened Trevey Realty. Later, she and her husband founded HFE Realty, where she worked until her retirement. Hazel was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir, and was a member of WELCA. She held numerous positions with Altrusa International, and was club president from 1993 to 1995. As coordinator of the club’s annual fundraising sale, she was proud to be called “The Nut Lady,” as the club sold a variety of mixed nuts. She was consistently a top salesperson for the group. She served on several class reunion committees for Boyden High School. Of her high school years, she fondly recalled working on the yearbook staff and taking band trips. She remembered having lunch at the drug store and piling into Rosalie’s car to eat at the brand-new Blackwelder’s as a senior. In later years, Hazel kept up with her classmates through her “Lunch Bunch” group. Hazel was totally dedicated to her husband, her three children, her grandchildren, and anyone who was associated with those children. She gave unconditional love to her family, and they returned that love. She loved the beach, and looked forward to family beach gatherings at Wild Dunes — the highlight of her year. For their 50th anniversary, Hazel and Jim took their entire family to London for an unforgettable trip. Soon after their return, the Eptings established a scholarship at UNCG so that students of the Bryan School of Business might have that same opportunity. Hazel had a lifelong love of music. She played the flute in the marching band, and loved to sing. At St. John’s, Jim and Hazel recently gave an octave of handbells in memory of their late daughter, Mitzi. Hazel was predeceased by her parents and a daughter, Mitzi Epting Kicklighter Snipes. Survivors include her husband, James Edward Epting, Sr., whom she married June 13, 1954; a daughter, Andrea Epting Powell and husband Vernon of Greensboro; a son, James Edward Epting, Jr. and wife Meredith of Atlanta; grandchildren Rob Ketner of Atlanta, Andrew Ketner of New York City, Julian Powell of Charlotte, Betts Powell and husband Jeremy of Marietta, Ga., Mandy Spencer and husband Steve of Greer, S.C., Hope Snipes of Greenville, S.C., Amy Woody and husband Dent of Camden, S.C., Carrie Brown and husband Eric of Atlanta; and Eryn Epting, Emerson Epting, Lulu Congrave and Max Congrave, all of Atlanta; great-grandson Philip Angel of Marietta; son-in-law Gary Snipes of Camden; sister Eulene Fisher Shepherd and husband the Rev. Banks Shepherd of Thomasville; sister-in-law Pat Epting of Salisbury; brother-in-law Bill Epting of Ocean Isle; and a number of nieces and nephews. A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, in the Sanctuary of St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. with the Rev. Rhodes Woolly, officiating. Visitation will be in the Chapel at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: St. John’s Lutheran Church Music Fund, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or the Hazel and James Epting International Study Fund, UNCG Advancement Services, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402. The family wishes to thank her exceptional care team: the Rowan County Emergency Response team members; the emergency department staff and the critical care unit staff of Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, as well as the staff of the Glenn E. Kiser Hospice House.