Olive Ruth Armstrong

January 18, 1930 - August 30, 2024

Olive Ruth (Simmons) Hazlett Armstrong, age 94, of Plainfield, Indiana, passed away surrounded by family, at 7:11 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2024, at The Gathering Together in Plainfield, Indiana. She was born on January 18, 1930 in Shoals, Indiana, to George and Laura (Abel) Simmons.

Olive grew up on a 13-acre farm in Shoals and her family was known around the area for their strawberries. She was the oldest of seven children and often cooked, sewed, and cared for her younger siblings. She was a very hard worker and was most content when she was "busy". Olive's parents were members of the Methodist church when she was born but later changed their membership and raised their children in the Pilgrim Holiness church. Going to church and camp meetings were a big part of her early upbringing. Her grandfather's favorite song was "Blessed Assurance", but her favorite song was "Bringing in the Sheaves". She thought it said "cheese" and loved when her mother made cheese. Olive was always very curious and loved learning. She started school in a one room schoolhouse in Hindostan, Indiana when she was five years old but the teacher thought she was too little and sent her home. The next year she went again and was a very good student. Olive was a 1948 graduate of Shoals High School. She then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend God's Bible School, where she graduated with the Christian Workers' Course degree. Olive worked throughout her time at Bible school in various jobs including the book bindery and as the personal chef for Lola Cowdrey, the Associate Dean of Students; preparing daily meals for her and her pets as well as cooking for the dinner parties with faculty and prominent guests. After college, Olive was employed at Van Camp's Hardware and Iron where she wrote ad copy. It was there that her friend and co-worker, Charlotte Hazlett, introduced Olive to her Uncle Bill. Olive married William "Bill" Hazlett in 1960. They share two daughters and were happily married for 36 years until Bill's death in 1996. In 1970, Olive went back to school and earned a Master's of Education degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She taught school for several years but was primarily a homemaker. In 2003, Olive became a grandmother and she also reconnected with a classmate from Shoals, James "Reid" Armstrong. They were married in 2004 until his death in 2021. Reid's special name for her was "Sweet Olive" which was very fitting and he often sang "You Are My Sunshine" to her.

Olive was a multi-talented individual with lots of interests and hobbies. She was an excellent cook, cake decorator, and a wonderful cookie baking, pumpkin pie making grandmother. She was very creative and did all sorts of arts and crafts. She especially

loved painting. Olive appreciated beautiful fabrics and was an accomplished seamstress and quilt maker. She played the piano, organ, accordion and guitar. She also had a beautiful singing voice. Olive shared her love of music with her children and grandchildren. She could be found frequently at the piano singing alone or with her daughters. "I'll Fly Away" was always a favorite with Olive taking the alto part and in recent years she would harmonize in the car. Grandma Olive and Grandpa Reid took their two grandsons every Monday night, for 9 years, to Guitarworks in Greenwood, Indiana for guitar, piano and drum lessons; and then, to Culver's for dinner. And, Olive took guitar lessons there too. She was also an avid gardener; growing vegetables, fruit trees, & flowers. Olive was a member of the Indianapolis Southwest Church of the Nazarene for more than 50 years. During that time, she served as Children's Church Director, was a Sunday School teacher, and was active in the music department as a dedicated member of the choir as well as a soloist. Olive loved God, her family, the color pink, and ice cream!

Survivors include her daughters: Laura Hazlett and Lisa (Marco) Zehrung; grandchildren: Demitri and Julian Zehrung; siblings: Margaret Hyde, Luella (Bob) Markle, Paul Simmons, Velma Marley and Naomi Humphreys; beloved pet: Miss Kitty. She was preceded in death by her parents: George & Laura (Abel) Simmons; spouses: William "Bill" Hazlett and James "Reid" Armstrong; and sister: Mary Laverne Lane Potts.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the Maple Hill Cemetery Chapel, 709 Harding Street, Plainfield, Indiana with visitation 1 hour before funeral services ( 12 p.m.) also at Maple Hill Cemetery Chapel. Entombment will follow. Hall-Baker Funeral Home Plainfield, Indiana is handling the arrangements. Please visit www.bakerfuneralservice.com to leave the family a condolence.

Olive's family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the caring nursing staff at Franciscan Health, Jennifer and the Brighton Hospice nurses, and Kimberli, Bristi and all of the amazing caregivers at The Gathering Together.

In Olive's memory, please make donations to The Gathering Together. Make checks payable to The Gathering Together, 147 N. Center Street, Plainfield, Indiana 46168 or online at www.thegatheringtogether.org .

The Gathering Together www.thegatheringtogether.org
147 N Center St, Plainfield IN 46168