Wayne Alton Hawley

1944 - 2025

Wayne Alton Hawley, 81, a retired United Methodist pastor, passed away on Oct. 2, 2025 from pulmonary fibrosis and congestive heart failure at Ascension Seton Cedar Park hospital in Cedar Park, Texas.

Wayne was born on June 22, 1944 in Dearborn, Mich. to George Olney Hawley and Frances Hawley, née Peacock. He liked to joke that he rolled off Ford Motor Co's Dearborn assembly line.

At age 5 Wayne received two violins from an aunt. When an accordion salesman tried to sell his parents that instrument instead, Wayne insisted on mastering the violin. He began lessons at age 9 and played throughout his life. At age 12 he became a Christian and resolved to become a pastor.

Wayne graduated from Highland High School in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1962. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. in 1966; and a master's degree in divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa., where he graduated cum laude in 1976.

Wayne served in the U.S. Army as a medic from 1968 to 1970 at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas; rising to the rank of E-5.

During his college and seminary years, Wayne served a number of churches in Kirk and Idalia, Colo.; Blanchester, Ohio; and Cumbola and Cressona, Pa. He also served as lay pastor of the Window Rock United Methodist Church in Window Rock, Ariz. from 1971-72.

After his ordination as a United Methodist Church minister, Wayne served UMC churches in Nazareth and Glendon, Pa. from 1977-78; Gravel Hill United Methodist Church in Palmyra, Pa. from 1978-83; the Harbor Beach and Port Hope United Methodist churches in Michigan from 1983-1991; and North Lake United Methodist Church in Chelsea, Mich. from 1991-2001. From 2001 to 2007 he served the Grace United Methodist Church in Samaria, Mich. and the Ida, Mich. United Methodist Church.

After retiring in 2007, Wayne moved to Burnet, Texas; where he was an active member of the First Methodist Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Wayne married his wife, Pamela, in 1969. He is survived by Pamela; son Christopher Hawley of Chandler, Arizona (wife Rebecca Holzer, grandchildren Gryffon and Tressa Hawley); son Scott Hawley of Austin, Texas (wife Tatem Oldham and grandchildren Eliza and Ezra); and son Jason Hawley of Everett, Wash. (wife Clare Ouyang). He is also survived by his sister, Carolyn Dunn (husband John Dunn) of Nottingham, Md.

Wayne was a loving, spiritual, humorous, curious and creative person who loved meeting people from all walks of life. He loved puns and was an avid writer of fiction, a knitter, a photographer, a puppeteer, and a performer in musical groups. He performed in plays at the Hill Country Community Theater in Texas and the Port Austin Community Playhouse in Michigan. He was a natural emcee, organizing and leading events for his church and community.

Wayne saw his life as series of miracles: in his words, they were "more than coincidences, they are blessings - gifts of Grace from God."

Wayne donated his body to the McGovern School of Medicine in Houston. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at First Methodist Church of Burnet, 301 E. Graves Street in Burnet, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to KLRU public television at donate.austinpbs.org or the LACare Food Bank at lacareburnet.org.