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Joseph Hawes Obituary
JOSEPH D. HAWES
Joe was a descendent of Hugh Walker Hawes, who came from Kentucky in 1839 and settled on Matagorda Island, establishing a ranching tradition that was carried on through many generations until 1940 when the land was taken from the family by the government at the start of WWII. Joe fought a persistent battle to get the land back until his death. He was a veteran of WWII who served his country as a B-24 bomber pilot and flight instructor. When his father became ill, Joe joined other family members in the operation of the Hawes Cattle Co. on Matagorda Island, as well as working as a commercial fisherman.
He was survived by his wife of 68 years, Marjorie Goode Hawes; children, David J. Hawes and Helen, Robert J. Hawes and wife, Marie, Molly Rader, Mary Thumann and husband, Elmer, and Rebecca Carville and husband, Robin; sisters, Evelyn Carroll of Panama City, Fla. and Betty Bell and husband, L. Roy; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Leslie Hawes, Lloyd C. "Buck" Hawes; great-granddaughter, Brooke Hawes; great-grandson, Clyde Hawes; and son-in-law, Bill Rader.
Visitation was held from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, with a rosary following at 7 p.m., in Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Port O'Connor Cemetery.
Pallbearers are his grandsons, Christopher, Daniel, Shane, Cody and Jody Hawes, Billy Rader, Jonni and Willi Carville.
Honorary pallbearers are his granddaughters, Rachel Hawes Redding, Lydia Hawes Huber, Conni Carville Hebert, and loving niece, Joanne Hawes Stoe.
Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, 361-552-2988.
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Corpus Family
November 5, 2008
Our condolences to your family from our family. Being in the ICU hearing you talk about him, we knew he was a great person. We too, lost our brother, Adam Corpus. They will now both be free of pain and will rejoice with our Lord.
Mack Ballard
November 5, 2008
I'm glad to be able to call you my friend, you were a good man.
Betty Schatz
November 5, 2008
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Gary Kelly
November 4, 2008
Hawes Family:
I would like to offer you my deepest sympathies. I knew Joe from about 1977 on. I worked for Ford Engineering from 1977-1986 and we would stop at the Hawes house any time we were in Pt. O'connor where we were certaily going to be offered a cup of coffee, some of the strongest I have ever had, but the company made it all worth it.
Joe took us out to the Island whennever we were doing rig moves in the Gulf Of Mexico. I have some of the best and most memorable memories of my life from being on the island with Joe as I bet you do to.
From staying at the bunkhouse to sleeping under the stars while on the island it was made better because Joe was there.
I loved the stories he had about shrimping, scuba diving, hurricanes, the civil war and the lighthouse, relatives burried on the island and stories he had about growing up and being on the island and many many more stories too numerous to mention.
He loved that island and one thing I wish is that he would have gotten it back from the government before he died.
A couple of things that I learned from being on the island was that you can put water in the brake resovoir instead of oil and your brakes will work pretty good and that a 50 caliber bullet will work as a freeze plug on an older model Ford pick-up.
I also learned that he loved his wife dearly and his nickname for her was Honeyo and that the acronym HILY stood for Honeyo I Love You.
I stopped by the house in Tivoli a couple of time and visited with Joe and Mrs. Hawes. I regret not stopping more. I was passing by a few weeks ago and thought about it but was too busy, my loss.
I think what i will remember the most is that old shrimp boat with its old compass and his sweat stained hat, oh yes and i will never forget the coffee.
I regret that I will not be able to attend the service but my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
What a wonderful experience it must have been being the wife, child, grandchild, brother, sister, nephew of neice of Joe and to have known him all those years.
Deepest Sympathies;
Gary J. Kelly
Ganem & Kelly Surveying
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Nick Holm
November 4, 2008
Becky,
You and your entire family are in our prayers at this time of loss. Camille and I extend our most sincere hopes for an easy passage through these troubling times.
Greta Sievers
November 4, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lisa and Adie Hawley (grand/great grand daughter of L'Roy & Betty Bell)
November 4, 2008
He was as big in heart as he was in stature. I think we always took it for granted that he would be around forever, fighting the Matagorda fight on behalf of the family. As the story was captured just a few years back, the title of the story captures the sentiment now, "Gone but not Forgotten". My memories of Uncle Joe will always be cherished ones.
Debbie Chinowith
November 4, 2008
I met Mr. Hawes at the blood bank where I used to work and I have never met a nicer and more genuine person. It was an honor to know him.
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