Leland Lisle 'Zeke' Hazlett, 83, long time resident of Silver City, passed in his sleep at his home in Corvallis, Oregon, on September 10, 2022, with his wife by his side. Zeke was born at home during a blizzard in Wheatland, PA on February 1, 1939, to Hazel Irene Jones and Leland Miller Hazlett, the second of their five children. His father had four other children, also.

Zeke grew up in the Shenango Valley, working as soon as he could to help the family; selling papers, setting pins, and working at the drive-in theater. After graduating from Hickory High and working at Sharon Steel, Zeke enlisted in the US Navy. He served his country with honor for eight years, including a year on Adak, Alaska. In 1964, Zeke married Sally A. Schaller. They had a son, Leland Edgar 'Chip' Schaller. The marriage ended, Zeke's service ended. He worked with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War for a time. Zeke traveled across the US several times, starting when he joined the Navy. He crossed the country by bus, train, and thumb. Road trips were a favorite.

In the 1970s, Zeke relocated to the West. He lived in California, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico, then back to Oregon. He took up bicycling, hiking, and mountain climbing. Zeke climbed several peaks in the northwest, usually with the Mazamas. He summited Mt. St. Helens back when it was taller. He took particular pride in having completed the 39 mile Timberline Trail around Mt. Hood in 24 hours, while also serving as a 'sweep' and finding some lost hikers. Zeke rode his bicycle from Pennsylvania to California with his future wife, Annie on hers. Zeke and  Annie Crawford got together in 1984, and got married in 2014. Zeke continued to enjoy road trips. When he lived in the Northwest, he liked to go to the Southwest. When he lived in the Southwest he would go to the Northwest.

Zeke finally went to college in his 60s. He joined MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán), he was elected to student government several times, had a column in the student newspaper one year. He helped his wife manage her bike shop for 20 years. He was great with a garden when ever and where ever  he got the chance. He was most famous, though, for his work in cast iron cookware restoration. He may have had more iron in his blood than the rest of us. He liked to remind people that he did not  march to a different drummer, he WAS the different drummer.

Arrangements have been taken care of by DeMoss Durdan Funeral Home, Corvallis, OR. No services are planned.