Richard C. "Rick" Hawkins

FUNERAL HOME OWNER RICHARD C. "RICK" HAWKINS WESLACO/DONNA - Funeral Home Owner Richard C. "Rick" Hawkins, 64, entered eternal rest on Friday, December 14, 2012 at Solara Hospital in Harlingen. He is preceded in death by his parents Dr. Harold / Helen Shilling & Raymond / Ida Hawkins and his brother in-law Raul Segura. Mr. Hawkins is survived his wife Mrs. Irma S. Hawkins; daughter Priscilla Hawkins; granddaughter Bianka Hawkins Jackson; son-in-law, Erik Jackson; son Ronnye Hawkins; parents in-law, Bernardo & Amanda Segura; brothers-in-law, Ricardo (Martha) Segura, Robert (Sonia) Segura, Edward (Delia) Segura, Bernardo Segura Jr., & Rolando (Leticia) Segura; sisters-in-law, Norma (Robert) Cuellar, Estela (Gilbert) Ybarra & Ofelia (Kevin) Waters; The Hawkins & Moyer Family from Ft. Worth and Bridgeport, and numerous cousins. Rick Hawkins was born on April 4, 1948 in the city of Bridgeport, Texas. He enjoyed sports and the outdoors from a young age; including playing football and basketball, bull riding and deer hunting. After graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1967, he attended Commonwealth College of Sciences in Houston, Texas and graduated in 1969 with a diploma in Funeral Directing and the Science of Embalming. After a brief stretch as a professional bull rider in the PRCA, professional racecar driver and limo driver, Mr. Hawkins began to pursue his career in Funeral Directing at Shannon's Funeral Home in Fort Worth, Texas in 1970, eventually becoming manager. His time at Shannon's allowed Rick the opportunity to become active in the Fort Worth Masonic Lodge and study Freemasonry. Rick also became an avid golfer, even playing at the prestigious Colonial Country Club. In 1982, Mr. Hawkins relocated to Weslaco, Texas and bought his first funeral home. The first Garza-Hawkins Funeral Home was located on S. Illinois Ave. across from the Weslaco City Cemetery where he served families until 1992. It was at this time that Rick & Irma Hawkins decided to build the current facility which is located at 2222 E. Business Hwy 83 in Weslaco. In 2004 Rick & Irma Hawkins decided to continue the tradition of excellence by adding a second facility at 501 North D. Salinas Blvd., in Donna, Texas. Rick was always a very caring person in the funeral business but when he would leave the funeral home he would enjoy spending time with his granddaughter Bianka "Hershey". He was able to spend most of the time with her at home and made sure he was always there for her. He enjoyed going over to Mid-Valley Christian School to have lunch with her and picking her up after school. He also had his favorite dog "Pinto" that Bianka and him would go home to play with. He was a very family oriented person who always did everything he could possibly do for his family. He loved his wife Irma very much; his daughter Priscilla; his son-in-law Erik who he enjoyed going hunting with and his son Ronnye. Mr. Hawkin's main priority in the funeral business was ALWAYS his families he served. He wanted each family to make sure that he was very great full for allowing him to offer his services in their time of need. No matter what situation came up Mr. Hawkins found a possible way to please his families. He always would tell his staff that every family was different and had different request, but they had to do everything possible to accommodate them and make they knew they were very important to him. He strived to always give excellent service to each family since 1982 when he first opened his funeral home doors. Alongside his family and families he served, he always took care of his staff at the funeral home. He always made sure that each of his employees were ok and every morning they would walk in he would tell them, "Good Morning, How are you doing". He made sure they knew they were very important to this business because we had to always work as a team. At times, he would sit in the front lobby and held a conversation with them and shared many stories. He always knew when something was wrong and if he could do anything to fix it, he would always do his best to do so. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his staff. Rick Hawkins was an active member of the local community; serving on the Weslaco Ambulance Advisory Board, the Weslaco Lions Club, Mid-Valley Medical Foundation and sponsored various local charitable pursuits in Weslaco and Donna. The Hawkins Family would like to thank family and friends for the care and attention to Mr. Rick Hawkins during these difficult times. They would like to thank everyone for the condolences and numerous phone calls that have been received. Mr. Hawkins will be greatly missed by his family, staff, families he serviced, and people who knew him. He may be gone, but the memories he left behind will always be in our hearts and those are the ones that we will cherish and hold close to us. Visitation will be held today Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Funeral Home in Weslaco. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel. Entombment will follow at Highland Memorial Park at 3 p.m. in Weslaco. Serving as Pallbearers will be Erik Jackson, Johnny J. Salinas Jr., Robert Segura, Carlos Vela, Edward Segura, Judge Jesse Morales, Clifton Smith & Mike Jones. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Bianka Hawkins Jackson, Ronnye Hawkins & Mike Real. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Hawkins Funeral Home in Weslaco at 2222 E. Hwy 83, Weslaco, Texas, 78596 (956) 969-0030. Sign the guest book at www.hawkinsfh.com Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries