Hazel H. Pierson peacefully passed away on Dec. 21, 2012, at the age of 102 after a two-and-a-half month illness at Bishop Place Assisted Living Center in Pullman, Wash. She was supported and loved by her family and caregivers from Family Home Health Service, Hospice and Bishop Place. She was born on the family homestead in Westmond, Idaho, on June 15, 1910. Hazel grew up in Coeur d’Alene with her two sisters and one brother who preceded her in death. As a young woman, she attended Cheney Normal College, now Eastern Washington University, where she graduated with a degree in education. She started her educational career in a one-room schoolhouse in Corbin, Idaho, in 1931 where some of the eighth-grade students were older than Hazel. Hazel met the love of he life, Bill Pierson, at Cheney Normal College.  They were married June 7, 1932. They lived in Coeur d’Alene for several years where Bill taught school. They moved to Pullman in 1943 where they both became members of the Pullman school system as teachers and administrators. After her family of four boys started school, Hazel taught at Pullman’s Edison Elementary School from 1954 to 1955. She then taught at Lincoln Middle School from 1958 to 1962. After obtaining a Masters in Library Science from WSU, she created and developed the first Instructional Materials Aide center for primary schools in Washington State. She spearheaded this project from 1962 to 1978. After retirement from the Pullman School District, Hazel and Bill moved to Hayden Lake, where they lived for 23 years. They returned to Pullman in 2001 where they lived the remainder of their lives. Bill passed Aug. 16, 2005. They were married for 73 years. Bill and Hazel raised four boys: Richard (Joan) Pierson of Anacortes, Wash; Terry (Gini) Pierson of St. George, Utah; Sid (Penne) Pierson of Pullman; Gilbert (Gayla) Pierson of Black Diamond, Wash. She is survived by her four sons and their families including 11 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. A private family graveside service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Spokane Memorial Gardens in Spokane. The family plans a celebration of her life early in the summer of 2013. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman is caring for the family. Memorials may be directed to the Hazel Hickman Pierson Book Fund, established through the Pullman Education Foundation to provide award-winning books to the Pullman School libraries. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com.