Donald Hawkins

Donald Eugene Hawkins, son of the late Henry William and Pearl Celia (Acker) Hawkins, was born March 6, 1936, in Willow Springs, Missouri, and passed away June 19, 2021, at his home in Pleasant Hope, Missouri. He was 85 years, 3 months, and 13 days of age.

Donald grew up attending school mostly at Mountain Grove. At the early age of 14, he went to
Idaho and did farm work for a short time. Later he worked in the mines, then did factory and farm work at various locations throughout the Northwest. Donald moved to Pelican, Alaska, and worked both in maintenance and as a carpenter at Pelican Cold Storage for 25 years.

He moved back to Missouri and married Delores Young on January 17, 2000, in Lebanon, Missouri. Donald and Delores made their home in Dunn, Missouri, for five years. Then they bought a home in Pleasant Hope, Missouri, where they would spend their winters, and bought a home in Challis, Idaho, where they would spend their summers for the next eight years. They eventually made their permanent home in Pleasant Hope where Donald resided until his passing.

Donald was saved at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Lebanon, Missouri, in his seventies. He later joined Freedom Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri, where he was a faithful member until his passing.

Donald enjoyed building and remodeling houses, and he even built his own cabin in the woods in Alaska. He was a hard worker and continued building as long as his health permitted. He also loved to hunt and fish in Alaska. He had a witty, clean sense of humor and loved to tell jokes.

He was small in stature, but a giant to his family. He could do anything that he set his mind to. Donald was a loving husband to Delores, and loved all of his family dearly.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Roy Dean Hawkins, one son-in-law, Doug Lunt, two brothers, Bill Hawkins and Johnny Hawkins, two sisters, Mary Lou Bailey and infant sister, Pearl Annabelle Hawkins.

Donald is survived by his loving wife, Delores Hawkins, two sons, Mark Hawkins, and Rodney Young and his wife, Pam, four daughters, Donna Jo Lunt, Veronica Potts and her husband, Steve, Kathy Morgan and her husband, Dale, and Sheila Thompson and her husband, Dave, one brother, Robert Hawkins and his wife, Karen, two sisters, Marie Micham, and Alice Hopper and her husband, Leon, 9 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many other extended family and friends who will miss him dearly.