Mary Ellyn Hazen was born and grew up in Elk City, Oklahoma. She attended Southwestern State College for two years and then attended Hill Business University for one year before passing the Civil Service Examination. She then left for Washington, DC. in 1941 to accept a position with the U.S. Government.

In February of 1943, Mary Ellyn was married to Robert Hazen in Washington, DC. She begins her married life as the wife of a Navy man in wartime. When World War II ended, Robert accepted a position with the CIA and was immediately assigned to the State Department. He was a Political Attaché in the Diplomatic Corps in South America while he worked undercover for the CIA.

As a CIA family, they spent the next 28 years in various South American countries including Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica. They encountered such dignitaries as John Kennedy and Eva Peron.

Mary Ellyn and Robert Hazen were divorced in 1972. Robert died of emphysema in December 1993. Mary Ellyn resides in Houston, Texas where she has published her first book, “Spies, Lies, and Alibis.

Spies, Lies and Alibis is the ultimate story of challenge and survival, a validation of one woman’s enduring strengths. This is a riveting story full of passion and politics, shattered trust and final survival.