Hazel M. Houten, 87, of Chicora died at 6 a.m. Friday at the home of her daughter, Nyoka Foringer of East Brady, following a short illness.

Born Aug. 17, 1918, in Chicora, she was the daughter of Hector Horton and Lulu Seybert Horton Dunlap.

She was a sales clerk for five years at the G.C. Murphy store in Butler and worked at Hemphill Market in Chicora for four years. She also was a produce manager at Friedman's Supermarket in Chicora for five years.

Mrs. Houten played bass fiddle with the Melody Range Riders along with her aunt, Aliene Murtland.

She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ near Chicora.

Mrs. Houten is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Edwin (Nyoka) Foringer of East Brady; a son, Joseph M. Houten of Cocoa, Fla.; four grandchildren, Brent Houten, Audra Gallaher, Shannon Hartman and Rick Foringer; one sister, Nora Mae Smith and her husband, William, of Slippery Rock; seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph F. Houten, whom she married Nov. 29, 1941, and who died July 19, 1994, and by two sisters, Helen Stewart Grayback and Ruth Cunningham.

<B>HOUTEN</B> — Friends of Hazel M. Houten, who died Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at STEIGHNER FUNERAL HOME, 111 E. Slippery Rock St., Chicora. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the Rev. Randall J. Forester officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Sugarcreek Township R.D. 2, Worthington.