Shirley Hawkins

Our beloved Shirley went home on August 16, 2012, after a lengthy illness. She was born December 7, 1933 in Lynn, Massachusetts, and moved to New Mexico with her parents in her early teens. Her father worked for General Electric and was involved in the development of the V2 rocket at White Sands Missile Range. Shirley married Robert (Jerry) Hawkins, June 24, 1950, at St Pauls Methodist Church. She loved playing bridge, painting, travelling and fishing, and most of all, she loved her family. She was a Bronze Master in Duplicate Bridge, who played bridge with many of her closest friends for more than forty years and travelled with Jerry to tournaments all over the southwest. She was a member of the Las Cruces Artists Association and created many great watercolor paintings. A member of St Pauls United Methodist Church for more than half a century, she was a Sunday school teacher and member of the Global Mission Board, and devoted many hours to creating beautiful murals that still grace the walls of many of the classrooms and hallways of the church. She had a bachelor of arts in Education and was a substitute teacher in Las Cruces for several years. Her greatest joy was in times spent with her family, and she especially loved family camping trips to Willow Creek and Snow Lake, where she was an avid stream fisher. She and Jerry and their dog, Buddy (and Max before him) spent many a night in their camper, reading, playing cards and getting ready to catch lots of fish the next day. She and Jerry shared a beautiful and rewarding life together, filled with love, laughter and happiness. Her grandkids' fondest memories include playing rummy against Grammie and Gampa Jerry; learning how to cook, crochet and paint; eating delicious waffles and cinnamon toast after spending the night; going to NMSU to see the farm animals and the duck pond; and the constant smell of good food wafting from her kitchen. She loved to laugh. She was preceded in death by her parents, WP and Wilda Chandler of Clearwater, Florida; her brother Wilbur (Bill) of Shelton, Connecticut; her in-laws, William and Mildred Hawkins of Brazito, NM; brother in law Charlie of Brazito and brother and sister in law Bryan and Jane Hawkins, also of Brazito. She is survived by the love her of life, Robert (Jerry) Hawkins, her brother, Leslie Chandler of Clearwater, Florida and sister-in-law Sandie Chandler of Shelton, Connecticut; daughter Linda and her husband Wayne Popp of Austin, Texas, and their daughters, Chandra of Austin; Heather of San Diego, CA; and Tessa, also of Austin; son Robert (Bob) and his wife Denise of Stockton, CA and daughter Ginger and her husband NC Winters of San Diego, CA, and daughters Natalie and Paige of the family home; son Benjamin (Ben) and wife Denny of Denver, and daughter Jobeth, and son David both of Denver; and son William (Bill) and wife Margaret (Meg) of Las Cruces, and their son Michael and his wife Mae of Flagstaff, AZ; son Robert and his wife Kim of Lemoore, CA; daughter Patricia and her husband Jaymie Jacoby of Jackson, Wyoming; and Catherine of the family home. She and Jerry also have seven great grandchildren, William, Jackson, Rocco, Marcus, Brianna, Elijah and Bru, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she cared a great deal for. Her compassion and humor will be greatly missed by all. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, August 21 at Getz Funeral Home. The celebration of life will be at St Paul's United Methodist Church at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 22, with graveside services immediately following at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. PDF Printable Version