Donna Hazlett

Donna Kay Hazlett, daughter of the late George “Junior” and Wilma (Spurgeon) Duey, was born, along with her twin sister, on October 11, 1947, at the family home in Wright County, Missouri. Junior and Wilma were not expecting twins, so Junior headed to town where the only thing he could find for a second baby was an apple basket. According to the girls, they never knew which girl got to sleep in the basket. Donna passed away peacefully in her sleep December 11, 2025, in The Oaks Cottage, Ozark, Missouri, at 78 years of age.

Donna grew up in the Dawson area, went to North Camel country school, and grew up attending Friendship Baptist Church. She was saved and baptized as a young girl. Her high school years were spent at Mountain Grove High School. She loved cheerleading and being a member of the Drum Corp, and made many lifelong friends, graduating with the class of 1965. She also grew up with a large extended family. Cousins were close and family get-togethers were often.

After high school, she married Larry Baney. Three children were born to this union: Rhonda, Larry, and Leasa. Donna and Larry bought a farm near Dunn, Missouri, and built a dairy that they operated together for many years. Donna was always a girl who enjoyed being outdoors, so having a busy dairy farm came naturally to her. Her favorite times on the farm included watching the sun come up of a morning as she rounded up the cows and bottle feeding the babies. She grew a large garden, canning and freezing lots of produce as well as helping butcher the family’s meat. Being raised by a talented seamstress, Donna was able to make clothes for her children when they were younger. Many family pictures highlighted Easter and Christmas outfits that were a product of Donna’s sewing machine.

While they were raising their family, Larry pastored several churches and Donna easily fell into the role of pastor’s wife, as she loved forming relationships with church members and serving through the ladies’ groups, being a Sunday School teacher, and playing the piano.

After her divorce in 1984, Donna was trained to be a Dental Assistant and worked for her cousin, Dr. Tom Todd, until her retirement. She loved working with the public and treasured the friendships she had with her coworkers. She also had rental property for several years. She wasn’t afraid to learn new skills and tackle many of the responsibilities of the property up-keep herself.

Donna married Roger Hazlett in 1986. They remodeled a home in Mountain Grove where they had a large yard that often boasted a bountiful garden and beautiful flower beds. She loved hosting family get togethers in her big yard and enjoyed sitting on her deck watching happenings in the neighborhood and the beautiful sunsets. She enjoyed the time her grandchildren were able to play and have cousin time running around her yard. Her hobbies included going to auctions and antique stores. She had a love for and a great respect for furniture and décor items with history. Later in life, they divorced and she met Kirk McCallister. They enjoyed several years together, especially going camping and taking fishing trips.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her twin sister, Vonna Hilt, and her companion, Kirk McCallister.

She is survived by her three children, Rhonda Hurtt and her husband, Ben of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Larry Baney and his wife, Amy of Sheldon, Missouri, and Leasa Hodges and her husband, Johnny of Dunn, North Carolina, seven grandchildren, Zach Hurtt and his wife, Amanda, Elynn Reed and her husband, Brice, Corey Baney and his wife, Caitlin, Luke Hurtt, Alycia Young and her husband, Dillon, Rachel Hodges, and John Hodges and his wife, Logan, seven great-grandchildren, Elyse, Brooks, Blaiklee, Andrew, Ashlynn, Shepherd, and Lincoln, and many cousins, a special aunt and uncle, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mountain Grove Alumni Park or Mountain Grove Christian Academy in care of the funeral home.