Obituary: Jim M. Hazelbaker

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jim M. Hazelbaker, 64, of 2285 Johnston City Road, Galatia, died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at the Herrin Hospital.

He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 30, 1947 to the late James Marion and Johanna (Klein) Hazelbaker.

He was retired from the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam. He also was a retired rural postal carrier for the U.S. Postal service in the Galatia and Raleigh area.

On Oct. 23, 1978, he married the former Dee Phelps, and she survives in Galatia. He is also survived by a daughter, Melanie Branche-Goff and her husband Richard of San Diego, Calif.; three grandchildren, Lindsey Honey, Marchel Branche and Merril Branch.e Also surviving is one brother, Terry Hazelbaker and his wife Kathy of Lakeville, Minn.; a sister, Hazel Smith and her husband Eldon of Ft. Meyers, Fla.; and he also has extended family and friends surviving.

Funeral services for Jim will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado with a friend of the family, Cathy Hungate, speaking. Burial will be at the Ebenezer Cemetery in Galatia with military rites. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 12, 2011, at Watson Funeral Home. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and left at the funeral home.

On-line condolences may be sent to the family at the Internet site watsonfuneralhome.net