AboutHazel

Hazel V. McCreary was born on August 12, 1891, to Frank and Ora McCreary. She was one of four children. She had two sisters and one brother. They lived on a farm on Kelly-McMaster Road about three miles from Delaware off the Horseshoe Road.

Hazel attended school in Delaware and graduated from Delaware High School in 1909. (This is her "graduation picture.") It was during her high school days that she wrote the song "The Black-eyed Susan" which has remained the high school song since her graduation.

In 1919 she married Joseph Malone. For years they had the Mobil Station and motel on Route 23 just out of Delaware. Joe also drove a Delaware school bus for a long time. Joe and Hazel had no children of their own but took special interest in the children who rode on the bus, often surprising them with little treats of candy, popcorn balls, apples and oranges.

Hazel was an avid reader. She loved nature. There were many wild flowers on their property which gave her great pleasure. There were also birds and other animals that she enjoyed feeding. She especially liked cats and always had some cats for pets.

When Hazel was 80 years old, she was invited to be a guest at the Rutherford B. Hayes Homecoming Football Game. During half-time, she was given recognition and presented with a plaque for writing the Delaware High School song, "The Black-eyed Susan." Her picture and a nice write-up later appeared in The Delaware Gazette . It was an exciting occasion for her as it was the first and only football game she ever attended. Francis McCreary, her nephew, was on the School Board at the time and was instrumental in arranging the event. Francis and his wife, Annabelle, still live on the McCreary farm where Hazel was born.

Hazel lived to be 90 years old. She passed away in September, 1981. She and her husband are both buried in the St. Mary's Section of Oak Grove Cemetery in Delaware, Ohio.