Ivan S. Hawkinson

Ivan Stanley Hawkinson of Las Cruces passed away on April 5, 2009 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born October 6, 1909 to Alfred and Mabel Nicholson Hawkinson in Crisman, Indiana, the oldest of three sons. Following graduation from Portage, Indiana High School, he worked for the Crisman San Company, City Services, and in the steel mills. Ivan married his high school sweetheart, Grace Alberta Garrison, on July 22, 1931. To this union a son, Stanley G. Hawkinson, was born in November 1934. In 1946, the family moved to Arizona seeking a warmer and drier climate for Grace's health. They lived in Chino Valley and Prescott before moving in 1949 to Farmington, New Mexico, where Ivan went to work for Southern Union Gas Company. He later took a job with El Paso Natural Gas Company, and helped to start the company plant at nearby Kirtland. The remainder of his 20-year career with El Paso Natural Gas was spent in plants at Gallup, New Mexico, on the Indian reservation at Montezuma Creek, Utah, and Wilcox, Arizona. He and Grace retired to Sunsites, Arizona where much of his time was spent in vegetable growing, a hobby he had long yearned for. Eventually, feeling the need to be nearer a town with more medical and other facilities, they settled in Roswell, New Mexico. While there, they were members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, where Ivan served as lay leader and was active in church activities. Grace died June 6, 1998. In January 2000, Ivan moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico to be near his son. He resided at Good Samaritan Village, for several years in an apartment and later in the nursing center where he was loved by all the staff for his cheerful manner, friendliness and humor. He was a member of University United Methodist Church and was active in activities there, including working at El Caldito on the church's monthly serving day, as long as his health allowed. Ivan looked forward to a celebration of his 100th birthday, but the Lord took him home just six months before the October 6 date. He was predeceased by his parents, his twin brothers Sidney and Glen Hawkinson, two sisters-in-law, and his wife, Grace. His son Stanley and wife Frances of Las Cruces survive him. Other survivors are grandchildren Stacy Hawkinson and wife Rosemary of Albuquerque and Roxanne Dillon and husband Brian of Plano, Texas; great grandsons Dylan Hawkinson of Bronxville, New York, and Tanner and Tyler Dillon of Plano; and several nieces, nephews, a cousin, and one sister-in-law. Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 2PM on Thursday, April 23 at University United Methodist Church, 2000 S. Locust, with the Rev. Dr. David Jones and the Rev. Allan Nesbitt officiating; and at 10 AM on Friday, April 24 in the chapel of Good Samaritan Nursing Center with Chaplain Joan Swanson officiating. Cremains will be interred at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Memorial gifts in Ivan's name may be made to the Spiritual Ministries Endowment Fund, Good Samaritan Society, Las Cruces Village, 3025 Terrace Dr., Las Cruces, NM 88011; or to the Heifer Project, University United Methodist Church, 2000 S. Locust, Las Cruces, NM 88001. PDF Printable Version