Hazel Rae Evans

Hazel Rae Evans, age 11, of Muskegon, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026. She was born on February 8, 2015, in Muskegon to her loving mother, Emily Holstine and father, David Evans.

Despite the challenges she faced with cerebral palsy, Hazel's life was a testament to her incredible strength and joyous spirit. She consistently defied expectations and brought immense happiness to everyone who knew her. To know Hazel was to love her. She had a special love for the simple pleasures of life, especially feeling the warm sunshine on her face and going on new adventures.

Hazel's world was filled with the love of her friends and family. A proud Girl Scout, she was the inspiration for her own troop, founded by her mother. Hazel cherished the time spent with her fellow scouts, participating in nature walks at the North Muskegon nature preserve and proudly riding on a float in the Fruitport Memorial Day parade. One of her most treasured adventures was her Make-A-Wish trip to Florida in 2023, where she delighted in the magic of all four Disney parks, Universal Studios, and Crayola World in addition to the warm, sunny weather. Though she was non-verbal, Hazel communicated volumes with her bright, expressive eyes and was always happiest and most alert when surrounded by the people she loved.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience and will be deeply missed by her devoted mother, Emily Holstine; Emily's loving partner, Dakota Schnotala; her father, David Evans; grandfather, Jeff Holstine; her half-siblings, David Evans Jr. and Lettie Evans, and many other friends and family. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother in 2019.

A Celebration of Hazel's Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Clock Funeral Home, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Kenneth Babcock will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to Hazel's GoFundMe to assist with final expenses.