Preston Hazzard

Preston Hazzard, beloved husband, father, father-in-love, Grandpa, brother and friend went home to be with Jesus on August 8, 2020 at 5:31.

He was born on November 13, 1952 in Highland Park, Michigan to Preston C. Hazard and Dorothy Rubush Hazzard and lived in Michigan until 1960, he liked to say he got to Texas as fast as he could. Preston married the love of his life, Vicki Dooley in Euless, Texas on July 10th, 1971, they were married for 49 years.
After they moved to Odessa for Preston’s second year at Odessa Junior College, where he went on a Gymnastic scholarship, and where he trained and competed for the National Junior College Championship team. He graduated from A&M Commerce in December, 1981 with a degree in Computer Science.

They settled first in Hurst, then Carrollton, where their first two children, son, Pete (Preston, Jr.) and daughter, Tracey were born. Living there 6 years they then moved to Euless, where they lived for 42 years in the same house. Their daughter, KImberly was born there. They attended and were members of First Baptist Church, Euless for 40 years. During that time Preston was a deacon, choir member, Sunday School teacher in children, high school and adults. He loved serving and helping others, he had a servant’s heart.

He was a Gideon and served as an Area Director. He was involved in Boy Scouts from 1989 until 2004. Under his leadership several boys became Eagle Scouts, including his son, Pete.

He loved gymnastics and started playing around with it in 7th grade, when he went to Trinity High School he joined gymnastics under Coach Jerry Milan, and they formed a life long friendship full of love and respect. He would often ride his motorcycle out to Sokol in Ft. Worth to teach or do gymnastics. He loved the Milans.

His greatest joy was becoming a Grandpa. Our first grandchild, Caitlyn opened a whole new world for him and he loved it from the start. God blessed him with 8 grandchildren, 4 boys, 4 girls: Caitlyn, Lauren(Hazzard), Gracey(Boyle) and Caroline (Stroh) and John Preston (Boyle), Cameron Preston (Hazzard) and Owen and Blake(Stroh). He spent hours taking them to parks when they were little, to watch construction men, earth moving equipment, made walking sticks and oh the stories. He always had a story to tell, the kids loved his stories, no matter how crazy they were.

Preston believed he was a very blessed man, he was surrounded by love from his family but most of all he was a child of God. His faith and love for the Lord was evident in all he did. Even in the hospital, after the accident, he was in the hospital for 5 weeks and one night the nurse said to Vicki, "Preston's a Christian, isn't he? You can tell by the way he treats people." That would have been his happiest moment.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Vicki, children, Pete (Preston Jr.) and Whitney, Tracey and Matthew Boyle, and Kimberly and Nathan Stroh. And his 8 grandchildren: Caitlyn, Lauren and Cameron Preston Hazzard, John Preston and Grace Boyle, and Owen and Blake and Caroline Stroh.

As well as 10 brothers and sister: Larry (Vicki) Hazzard, Ann Lau, D.J. Gaddy, Jane (Bill) Havens, Beth Bradford, David Hazzard,(Cathy), Steve Hazzard, Chris Hazzard (Gwen), Susan (Alan) Odom, Julie Hazzard. As well as dozens of nieces, nephews and friend.

“On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. a Live Stream of Preston's Celebration of Life will be viewable here https://boxcast.tv/view/preston-hazzard-funeral-328666