Delores Anna Hawkins

Delores Anna Hawkins, 95 years old, passed away after a very brief stay in hospice. Delores or Dee as she was also known born December 8th, 1928, was the eldest of nine children born to Paul and Martha Hutchison of Goshen, Indiana. She was followed in quick succession by Pauline, Mary(deceased), Harold, Robert, Norma, Barbara, Vonda and Patricia. (Her parents were on the strict schedule of a new kid every 14 months, but eventually, I'm assuming due to exhaustion, the time between kids lengthened. )

Delores was part of the greatest generation and grew up during the Depression and got her first job at fifteen making tents for soldiers during WWII. After graduating from Concord High School, Delores started dating a returning soldier named Kenneth Charles Hawkins, Jr. who happened to be the older brother of the young man her sister Pauline was dating. At first Delores was not that impressed with the tall, young Army veteran because he was a cocky man of the world who wouldn't pick her up at the front door and Delores was the kind of young woman who went on dates with her younger sister in tow so she could make a quick escape if needed.

Once Ken met Delores though it was love at first sight for him and eventually he brought her around to his way of thinking. Delores helped Ken deal with the darkness he endured in the war. She had a wonderful laugh and brought light wherever she went so it made perfect sense that she married a man whose very accurate and life long nickname was Sunshine. Delores and Sunshine immediately did their part for the baby boom generation by having twin red headed daughters which was a shock to everyone including Delores. Carolina Lou Hawkins and Christina Lee Hawkins (Morgan) were then followed by two sons Randy Paul Hawkins and Kenneth Charles Hawkins III (and yes, Delores did take some abuse from the older generation who told her the eldest son could be the third but not the second son, but parents know best and the second son was definitely the third but who's on first?)

After settling in Nappanee and then South Bend, Indiana the young family pulled up stakes in the early 1960's and moved West to Phoenix, Arizona for better job opportunities and a climate and foliage more conducive to people with allergies. They bought a brand new house and promptly planted numerous citrus trees and all was good.

Two daughters, two sons and a new house in a new suburb when the baby boom detonated one last bomb and Delores found herself pregnant again. Her youngest child was 12 and she really didn't want to experience the whole baby thing again, but everyone else, especially Sunshine, was thrilled so Traci Ann Hawkins was born and Dee quickly came around to the idea of a fifth kid.

In the seventies Dee found her career as an Avon lady. She had a massive section of the west valley for her territory, her customers became her friends and she watched the valley grow and flourish. She also joined a bowling league and played for decades and won the occasional trophy. She was active in her church and she and Sunshine hosted junior church (which is a lot like senior church but with more cookies.) She drove the church van for Bible school despite several unfortunate incidents involving top vents and side mirrors.

Dee loved to go camping, travel back to the family in Indiana and parts beyond and go sightseeing around the country. She eventually visited all fifty states, Mexico and all the big provinces of Canada and a number of the little ones too. She took trips to the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Europe and made sure to visit a concentration camp since her husband Sunshine had helped liberate one during the war. In the Louvre she was heard to exclaim in a loud voice when she saw the Mona Lisa, "That's it!?" In Norway she was stunned to find the small hometown of Knute Rockne of Notre Dame fame. In Austria she got into a fight with a tour guide about just how much of their collection had been gotten through Nazi theft. In Venice she was overjoyed to be in a gondola with two young boatman singing Quando Quando Quando with only her adult daughter for company and a drunk tourist who tried to climb in as well. And no matter what country or state she was in whether it was a polka band, a luau ukulele, bagpipes, street busker or even an ice cream truck she would hear the song You are my Sunshine. Sadly, her own Sunshine had passed by then, but he always let her know he was around and he loved her. (Her travel companion thought he might also be expressing some thoughts on the money being spent.)

Dee eventually retired from Avon after 40 plus years and several promises to retire starting around her 31st year. She continued to drive until for the good of all mankind she gave up her keys. She moved to Sun City and kept busy with her family, pets, home and yard. She is preceded in death by both of her sons. Kenny Charles the third died of leukemia in 2012 ( he left behind three adult children and numerous grand and great grandchildren). Dee's eldest son Randy Paul died five years later of a massive heart attack (he left behind two adult children). Her surviving children are Carrie (proud cat parent), Christie (proud parent to Kerianne and David and wife to Martin Morgan) and Traci (not so proud dog parent - meet them and you'll understand).

Delores suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday July 16th. It no doubt would have instantly killed a normal person but Delores's incredibly strong heart kept beating for four more days until she closed her eyes for the last time Saturday, July 20th. She had family and friends in to visit her and after they went home she went home too. She went home to see Sunshine so they could celebrate their anniversary for the first time together in more than thirty years.

This is a long obituary but then she had a long, good life that deserves to be remembered and celebrated. This very brief summary didn't even touch on her breaking her leg in many places at the age of ninety because, in her words, the vent cover attacked her and knocked her off the ladder. Thanks to her stubborn determination and good genes her leg not only healed but she grew new bone. Delores will be interred next to her husband at the Sunwest Funeral Home and Cemetery after a graveside service at 9:00 am on Tuesday, July 30th. The service will be brief and small because this is the Arizona desert in July and while we know Delores is going to heaven there's no reason for the rest of us to check out Hell any longer than we have to. She would understand. Delores is also sharing her space with her beloved last rescue dog, Amy (her ashes anyway) so In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Humane Society.