Hazel Buffington Lease, 98, died peacefully at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell Iowa, on September 3, 2026.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. at Grinnell United Methodist Church.

Hazel Neal Buffington was born on December 15, 1927, to Benton Cornelius and Mattie (Hobson) Buffington in Jarbelo, Kansas, and graduated from high school in Tonganoxie, Kansas. On January 31, 1946, she was united in marriage to Garland Simpson Lease in Fort Madison, Iowa and they had three children, Leo, Linda and Lon.

Garland’s career as a U.S. Navy Sea Bee gave their family the opportunity to live in many places, both in and out of the U.S. As a Navy wife, she cared for the family when Garland was deployed. At the same time she was able to fulfill her dream of being a teacher, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at the University of Rhode Island, followed by a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities from Iowa State University.

After Garland’s retirement they lived in Boone, Iowa where Hazel established a Learning Disabilities program. In her retirement, like so many devoted teachers, she continued to teach reading for adults as a volunteer in Bella Vista, Arkansas and Grinnell, Iowa.

Hazel loved traveling, geology, sewing, quilting and especially her family.

She is survived by her children, Leo (Barb) Lease of Grinnell, IA, Linda (Paul) Millis of Boone, IA, and Lon (Chris) Lease of Euliss, TX; grandchildren, Lane (Hilda) Lease of Spring, TX, Lonn Lease of Grinnell, IA, Lynn (Justin) Hassman of Golden CO, Laura Cameron of Anchorage, AK, Lisa (Justin) Coles of Haslet, TX, and Larry Lease of Euliss, TX; as well as 11 great grandchildren. Hazel also leaves innumerable friends, colleagues, and former students to remember her fondly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Garland, and one granddaughter, Jennifer Wilson.

Memorials may be designated to Grinnell United Methodist Church or St. Francis Manor and mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, P. O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.