Obituary of Hazel Travis VanSyckel

Hazel Travis Holland VanSyckel passed from this life on Monday, June 24th, 2024 at the age of 96. She was born in Williamson County, Tennessee on May 26th, 1928 to the late Kenerdy L. and Susie Mangrum Travis. She was married to Robert Roy Holland on July 26th, 1945 and they had three children. She graduated from high school in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, then moved to McMinnville, Tennessee in 1948, where she and Roy raised their children. After working as a homemaker, she attended Columbia State Community College in Franklin and was employed as a bookkeeper for many years. She enjoyed reading, knitting, and sewing, but was most passionate about oil painting. Throughout the years, many of her paintings were awarded prizes from local art shows and fairs. She began her Christian journey at age 13 through baptism, and later through the years enjoyed teaching children’s and ladies’ Bible classes. Most recently, she was a member of the Central church of Christ in McMinnville, but also attended services at East End church of Christ in McMinnville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Jesse L. Travis of Birmingham, Alabama and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mangrum of Franklin, Tennessee; step-mother, Lillian Travis Tittsworth; first husband Robert Roy Holland; son, Raymond Holland; daughter, Karen Holland Bird; brother-in-law, Tom Wilhite; and her second husband Albert T. VanSyckel whom she married May 3rd, 1991. Following Albert’s death, Ms. VanSyckel moved back to McMinnville in July 2012 after residing in Waverly, Tennessee for 21 years. Survivors include her daughter, Phyllis H. Hillis of McMinnville, Tennessee; daughter-in-law Karen Holland of McMinnville, Tennessee; step-daughters Margaret Baker of Maryland and Lorraine (Ken) Manahl of New Jersey; sister, Frances Marie Willhite of Manchester, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Natalie T. (Olen) Myhre of Cookeville, Tennessee; Cameron T. (Suzanne) Bird of Houston, Texas; and Meghan Bird Childers of Gainesville, Georgia. Great grandchildren, Kirsten Higgins, Leah Myhre, Madelyn Myhre, Daniel Myhre, Madeleine Bird, Christian Bird, Charlotte Bird, Rachel Childers, and Elizabeth Childers; very dear niece Christy (David) Bryan of Manchester, Tennessee; another niece and nephews; and many special friends and caregivers at The Webb House locations in both McMinnville and Smithville, and Gentiva Hospice. Memorial donations may be made to The Wounded Warriors Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or by calling 855-448-3997, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html or by calling 800-805-5856. Per Ms. VanSyckel’s request, Murfreesboro Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of cremation and arrangements. A Celebration of Life will be held 2:00pm Saturday, July 20, 2024, at East end Church of Christ, 102 Edison St., McMinnville, TN 37110 with Brother Kevin Key Officiating.