Norma Lee Hawkins

We’ve come together, family and friends, to celebrate the life of Norma Lee Hawkins.
Born June 5, 1927 in her parents’ home at Romance, Missouri, her parents, Herman and Dalta Melton preceded her in death. She joined her husband, Newton Calvin Hawkins in death on May 27, 2013. She was 85 years, 11 months and 22 days of age.
She is survived by three children, Janice (Hawkins) Groenemann, Newton “Bud” Hawkins, and Robert Hawkins, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. (we are counting two on the way). She is also survived by two wonderful sisters, Jean Blisard and Sue Nance, who have been her best friends all of her life.
Norma attended schools in Ozark County graduating from Gainesville High School in 1944 as Salutatorian. She taught elementary school at Romance her first year out of high school.
On March 23, 1946 Norma married Calvin Hawkins. They made their home on a farm at Noble, Missouri and were blessed with three children.
In 1967, Norma and Calvin sold their farm and bought the Western Auto Store in Mtn. Grove, Missouri which they operated for many years. In 1986 Calvin died of a heart attack. Norma continued to operate the Western Auto with the help of her son, Rob, whom she later sold the business to. It is now Hawkins Home and Lawn.
Mom enjoyed life: she loved to tell a joke, she loved music, and played the guitar and piano. She loved to sing. Often she and we kids would ride with Dad on his milk route and we would sing four part harmony there and back. Mom loved to get together with friends and sing. Her favorites were gospel songs, but she loved all music.
Mom loved her family: she loved it when everyone was together at Christmas or Thanksgiving. She loved having the grandchildren come and stay with her. She loved taking them to Branson. For several years we would all camp together at Theodosia and enjoy nature and water and one another.
Mom collected musical instruments and assorted old clothes for dress up. The grandkids loved to dress up and perform. Mom kept for her entire life that child-like joy of life.
Mom loved everyone, always saw the good in them and never judged. She always thought about what another might be going through if their behavior was rude or unfriendly.
She loved to crochet: She made booties and baby sweaters with caps for friends and family and for Newborns in Need. She created hats and scarves and warm booties for everyone she knew and many she did not. She kept local nursing homes supplied with these.
Mom was generous to the point that we always teased, “Don’t tell Mom you like something she has or she will try to give it to you.”
Mom loved dolls and began collecting them at age 40. In her journal she writes she once had 500, but I believe it was more than that. She had only one daughter and one granddaughter and if ever we disappointed her it was only because we didn’t love dolls as much as she did. She loved garage sales
(and writes that she was addicted to them). She loved to find old dolls, clean them up, repair them, and dress them in beautiful clothes that she made herself.
One of the best gifts Mom ever gave were the scrap books she has made for each one of us. We all went together to her home after her death and there we sat looking through our scrap books. Mom would have so loved to see this!
Mom was baptized at age 16 in the Church of Christ and attended the First Christian Church of Mtn. Grove.
So, we know Mom was ready to go, her body had worn out; she went peacefully in her sleep exactly as she wanted to do. We celebrate her life, her joyful playfulness, her patience, her kindness, her generous spirit and the absolutely unconditional love she showered upon all of us. She blessed us all more than words can express. We love her so dearly and will miss her so terribly.
Mom loved to collect jokes, sayings, and words of wisdom. This poem was found in her important papers. It is so Mom.
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no nights in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little but not too long.
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared.
Miss me….but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take.
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds.
Miss me….but let me go.
So, Mom, Grandma, Sister, dear friend, we let you go because we must. But always you are here in our hearts. We love you so very much.