Local minister and woman of many hats enjoys her multifaceted life in Prescott
Prescott Woman Magazine chatted with Rev. Hazel Bowman with PrescottMinistry.com, to find out what makes her enjoy Prescott and everything it has to offer.
PWM: How long have you lived in Prescott?
Hazel: My husband Howard and I moved here from Chicago in February 1997, so it’s been 25 years now.
PWM: Why did you choose Prescott as your home?
Hazel: My parents were long-time residents of Arizona, establishing the Rimcrest RV Resort in the White Mountains area in addition to owning homes in Sedona and Green Valley. I was familiar with Prescott but wanted to make sure that this was our dream location. A year before my husband retired, my focus intensified. I started receiving copies of the local paper to learn more and I fell in love with the community. What clinched it was when we first moved here and our daughter Beverly was visiting. It was early in the morning and she was getting ready to leave to drive home to California. She wanted to purchase an item from the Sharlot Hall Museum gift store and though it was before hours, a volunteer opened early just for us. I knew at that moment that any community that can provide that type of gracious courtesy was the one I wanted to live in.
PWM: What’s your occupation?
Hazel: Like numerous women, I have worn many professional hats — from being a vice president of commercial real estate for a Chicago bank to being an event planner, not to mention being on the boards of various eleemosynary organizations. When we moved to Prescott, I became a Virtual Assistant, a professional independent contractor who works out of their home office.
Life certainly has its store of surprises, for it was twelve years ago I felt Spirit calling me. It wasn’t a conference call so I’m unable to share all that it detailed. I became certified and licensed as a Religious Science Practitioner with the Center for Spiritual Living, and then independently became an all-denominational minister honoring all faith traditions to serve my community.
PWM: Do you have any kids?
Hazel: I became an “instant mom” 41 years ago when I married a man with five children from a previous marriage. It was quite a learning curve. For instance, I had no idea how much teenage boys ate. I still remember that first morning when I fixed 110 pancakes for breakfast and then that evening for dinner made 96 tacos. What got to me was they were skinny as rails.
As a stepmom, some people have said to me, “Oh, then you don’t really have any children of your own.” I enjoy teasing in return, “Oh, they’re my kids, all right. I bought them, I paid for them, and I’ve got the receipts to prove it. Boy, do I have the receipts!”
PWM: What is your favorite thing about living in the Prescott area?
Hazel: It’s difficult to narrow it down to just one. I’ve met so many fascinating people who live here whose careers reflect the diversity from around the world. Our local business owners are the best, hands down, and are among the most generous and caring I’ve ever encountered. Our community events are year-round so there’s always something to do. Due to minimal street lights, I can see the splendor of the night skies. The climate and change of seasons enhance our natural environment and the deer in my backyard remind me that we are the visitors and not the wildlife.
PWM: How do you think Prescott enhances your occupation and hobbies?
Hazel: Its beauty and charm make it ideal in recognizing all of Life’s blessings, whether I’m walking on the trails, fishing at Lynx Lake, hiking Thumb Butte or simply sitting on my back porch enjoying the magnificent sunset.
PWM: Are you working on anything new or exciting for the upcoming year?
Hazel: This year I’m trying to make more time for myself as I continue on my spiritual path. However, as anyone can tell you, there is no finish line or graduation. One of the books I’m currently reading is The Grass is Greener Right Here by David Ault. It features a quote from Eckhart Tolle: “You get there by realizing you are already there.” To experience heaven on Earth, we must think, choose, and welcome its presence around us.
PWM: If you could contribute to anything in the Prescott area, what would it be and why?
Hazel: I love thinking that I have already contributed to the Prescott area. In 2005, I launched the Prescott Bridal Affaire Expo. Over the next 13 years, after admittedly making a few missteps such as never host an expo on Super Bowl Sunday, it evolved to become this area’s most popular bridal expo. In 2018, I knew I wanted to pass the reins to someone who could take it to the next level, someone who knew our community and was dedicated to supporting our local vendors. I was thrilled when Tahna Falk of StarStruck! Events Planning became the new owner. With her and her team, the Prescott Bridal Affaire Expo is now the largest and longest running bridal expo in Northern Arizona. May its legacy continue through the years to come.
Learn more about Hazel at PrescottMinistry.com. Contact her at 928.541.1521 (land line, no texts).