Lloyd K. Hazzard

Lloyd Kenneth Hazzard
August 12, 1931 ~ August 26, 2017
Lloyd K. Hazzard, age 86, of Montrose, CO, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2017 in the comfort of his home. Lloyd was born on August 12, 1931 in Pueblo, CO, the son of Homer and Genevieve (Deibert) Hazzard. He grew up in Walsenberg, CO, where he loved to hunt and roam the foothills of the Spanish Peaks.
Lloyd enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and served his country from July 27, 1949 to February 10, 1954. He was assigned to destroyer duty just prior to the outbreak of the Korean War and completed three tours of duty in the Korean War zone earning six ribbons, five medals and seven campaign stars. Lloyd’s ship assisted the Hungnam evacuation in December of 1950 after the Chinese entered the war and took part in close-in bombardment at a lake invasion near Kansong, and was present at Inchon for the second taking of the city. He screened for the carriers off both the east and west coast of Korea, also screened for the battleship U.S.S. Missouri for 45 days of bombardment, and completed several tours of duty inside enemy held Wonson Harbor, North Korea.
In July of 2000, the Department of the Navy issued Mr. Hazzard the Combat Action Ribbon for participating in firefights inside Wonson Harbor. He also belatedly received the Republic of Korea’s Korean War Service Medal and ribbon which was approved for official use by the United States in 1999.
In 1952, while home on leave, Lloyd married Alice J. Magninie of Walsenburg, CO. They shared 65 wonderful years together. They were devoted to each other and to their children and grandchildren.
After Lloyd’s honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended the College of Forestry and Range Managements at Colorado State University where he majored in Wildlife Management, graduating with distinction in 1958. Following graduation, Lloyd was employed by the Colorado State Game and Fish Department. His assignments included the Little Hills Experiment Station near Meeker that same year, Lamar as a Wildlife Conservation Officer (1958-1963), Monte Vista as a Wildlife Conservation Officer (1963-1966), Montrose as a Senior Fisheries Biologist (1966-1970), and in Montrose as a Principal Fisheries Biologist (1970-1984). Some of the projects in which Lloyd took part included establishment of the first large scale archery elk season in the San Luis Valley in 1964, the study of winter fish kill in high mountain lakes, biological surveys of high mountain lakes in Southwestern Colorado, upgrading of fish transport systems, and establishment of brood fish programs and various lake and stream improvements projects. He also planned and participated in annual fish stocking of high lakes in the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountains from 1970 to 1984.
Lloyd was one of the first to establish new habitat for the endangered Rio Grande cutthroat trout. He loved his work and made every effort to pass on useful information to the hunting and fishing public.
Lloyd believed in working hard at whatever job was at hand. After almost five years of Navy duty, four years at Colorado State University and 26 years with the Division of Wildlife, much of it involving work away from home, Lloyd wanted a change of pace. He took an early retirement and devoted his remaining time to his family and to his former shipmates.
Lloyd loved the mountains and desert equally. Watching his children and grandchildren achieve maturity made him very proud. He felt fortunate being able to build a playground for his grandchildren and being a part of their lives. Lloyd was an avid reader of non-fiction books, especially those concerning historical subjects. He was a member of the V.F.W and a member of the National Association of Destroyer Veterans.
Lloyd enjoyed writing short stories about the Navy and life on a U.S. Navy Destroyer. He shared the stories with friends, family and shipmates. In October of 2003, his destroyer shipmates asked him to compile a history of the destroyer U.S.S. Lofberg (DD-759). He approached the job as a labor of love and completed the book in January of 2004.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, half-brother L. Homer Hazzard, brother Robert George Hazzard, sister, Betty Ruth Redman and by an unnamed infant son and two sons-in-law, Andy Ramey and Dale McKenzie.
Lloyd is survived by his wife, Alice, of the family home in Montrose; four children, Robert L. (Therese) Hazzard of Cincinnati, OH, Robin A. McKenzie of Thornton, CO, June M. (Darren) Watkins of Aiken, SC, and Douglas L. (Shannon) Hazzard of New Castle, CO; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren (and one on the way); a sister, Margery Peck of Las Cruces, NM, and a brother-in-law, Charles Redman of Las Cruces.
A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held on Thursday, August 31st, 2017 at 3:00 P.M. at Grand View Cemetery, west of Montrose. A reception for family and friends will follow the service at the family home. Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory of Montrose is assisting the family.