Jason Gary Hawkins

Jason Gary Hawkins
1972 - 2015
On Saturday, April 25, 2015, Jason Gary Hawkins passed away, far sooner than any of us were prepared for. He was 43. He was our husband, our father, our son, our brother, and our friend. He was someone immensely important to every person he knew.
In the back of our minds, we always believed there was that slight chance we would get a call in the middle of the night announcing that Jason had been caught in an avalanche; or perhaps, he had crashed somewhere in the middle of the Mexican desert on his motorcycle. We could believe that he would find himself in any number of bizarre accidents simply because of the adrenaline-laden life he so loved living.
Instead, after spending the day with his wife and children, he collapsed. He felt some dizziness and his heart just stopped. His wife Sybil and the paramedics did a heroic job attempting to revive him, but their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Jason was born on February 3, 1972. His parents, Gary and Gail; sisters, Jennifer Halker and Megan Stephens; and his brothers, Matt and Mark, survive him. He also leaves behind his wife, Sybil, and their two children, Sofia (13) and Hudson (8). Along with his family are a menagerie of dogs, gerbils, a cat, and various friends and admirers who will feel the loss of him.
Jason grew up in Boise, Idaho and at an early age became fascinated with anything that had a motor in it. If he could race it, jump it, or modify it, well that's what he was going to do. His quick smile, wonderful sense of humor, adventurous spirit and generous nature allowed him to make friends easily. Once befriended, he kept people close to him for the remainder of his life.
Jason was on both the varsity basketball team and the state championship football team. He was larger than life and enjoyed doing physical things immensely. He was a man who found his own way through life, brave enough to establish his own rules rather than simply following the blueprints laid out by those who had gone before him.
After graduating from Centennial High School, Jason attended Arizona State University where he earned a degree in business. But before the degree came the love of his life. In high school, he met his best friend and soul mate, Sybil Vanderhoef. They started dating when she was only sixteen and eventually married in 1994. They did everything together. They traveled the world and skated on the same hockey team. They chased elk in the mountains, and chased down thugs in Paris. Most importantly, they have been the best parents to their two children. Theirs was a love and friendship that was envied by all who knew them. Simply put, Sybil was his perfect companion, a partner in a joyous and full life.
Jason was a successful real estate developer and enjoyed working in the family business. He took great pride in his work and has many projects throughout the western United States standing as testament to his tenacity and vision. He was both respected and loved by his peers in the real estate industry. He was involved in the Young Presidents Organization, served on the board of Goodwill Industries and supported other various charities.
More important to him than his work was his family. After spending most holidays and weekends in McCall, Idaho, the family decided to move to the resort town full time in 2009. Living there afforded him the opportunity to spend more time with Sybil and become more involved in his children's activities.
He taught Hudson to race a motorcycle and snowmobile up a mountain. He taught him what it meant to be a good person and friend, and gave him the foundation he will need to grow into a good man. Sofia enjoyed hunting elk with her dad. He taught her persistence and that it didn't matter if you win or loose but that you enjoyed the game. He taught her how to wake surf and snow ski. He was also very supportive of Sofia's talent for figure skating. He allowed both of his children to be who they truly are, celebrating them for their uniqueness and their gifts.
Jason was a lover of a good steak, an evening with friends and family, and chasing down a new real estate development opportunity. He was a man who loved the act of living, who relished new experiences of all kinds.
Although Jason's life was cut short, he enjoyed and participated in more activities than most people do in two lifetimes. He worked hard and he played hard. In the summer you would find him on a boat, a water ski, a golf course, or a surfboard. In the fall, he would be hunting or exploring mountain lakes on his motorcycle or RZR. In the winter, he was either on skis, a snowboard, an ice rink, or a beach in Cabo. In the spring, well, he was waiting for the summer. Jason was never passive in his own life, never an idle observer. He was passionate about all it had to offer and thrived on discovering new ways to experience it.
Jason was the life of the party. Everyone wanted to be with him. Around him you felt more alive, and all of your senses were enlivened. A person who actually possesses that kind of magnetism is rare. Jason was one of those rarities. He was fiercely loyal, energetic and caring. He was adventurous, kind and always exceedingly helpful. He was a daring man, friendly and generous. He was a fighter, very social and persuasive. He was slightly irreverent and extremely gregarious. He always left one with the feeling that life was a few shades brighter with him in it. To know Jason was to love him.
The end of his dock in McCall featured a rotating cast of friends, family, and neighbors who wanted nothing more than to bask in Jason's special spirit. People fed off of his energy and enthusiasm for life. Although we have all lost a great person and we are devastated by his absence, Jason has left within each of us a greater desire to take advantage of the time we have each day and to treat others as we would want to be treated. Most importantly, he leaves us with a willingness to cast off our fears and honestly, truly live.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2015 at the LDS Stake Center located at 5555 N. Locust Grove, Meridian. Family will greet friends at a viewing from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Relyea Funeral Chapel, 318 N. Latah St., Boise. Interment will immediately follow the service at Dry Creek Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jason's memory for the Manchester Ice and Event Center to the RJS Foundation c/o Randy McMahan, CPA, P.O. Box 869, McCall, ID 83638.