Florence “Louise” Hawker

Florence "Louise" (Long) Hawker, 83, of Grangeville, died Monday, September 22, 2025 at the Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation Center of Cascadia. Louise Long was born on October 10th, 1941 in Pocatello, Idaho to Ray and Florence Long. She was the fourth child born to them and would be followed by four more siblings, making eight children all together. They were always raised on farms, when Louise was six their mother died and within a few months they came to live with their grandparents Luther and Lucy Estep in Arbon Valley, Idaho.

Louise loved growing up on the homesteaded wheat farm and cattle ranch and attending school in American Falls, Idaho where the grandparents had purchased a home to facilitate the ease of the grandchildren going to school. Grandma Estep living at the town home during the school year and all of them traveling back to the farm on weekends and moving each spring back to the farm for the summer.

Louise graduated from American Falls High School in 1959. She would meet and marry Stephen Hawker on February 14, 1963 in Soda Springs, Idaho where she owned and operated the first beauty shop in Soda Springs. The couple had three children: Stephanie Jordan (Eric), Martin Hawker and Cory Hawker. They later divorced in 1978.

Louise was an adventurer and she and the kids moved to different areas for the next couple of years. She settled in Meridian and worked for a fiberglass company until moving to Grangeville in 1985 to be closer to her daughter. She attended LCSC, graduating with a degree in Print Technology and eventually went to work for Ken and Julie Barnes managing the Downtowner Inn until her retirement. She dearly loved people and each visitor that stayed at the motel was welcomed by her warm and generous heart. She made many friends throughout those years and still kept in touch with them over the years and miles. She was a volunteer at the Syringa Thrift Store for many years.

The jewels in her crown were her ten grandchildren who were always up for any adventure she would put before them, with a convenience store coffee cup in her hand she would load them into her red chevy blazer and off they would go. The next generation of fourteen great grandchildren always loved going to see her.

She has always inspired us with her love for Jesus and her good work ethic. We lovingly remember her as a woman who would speak her mind add her own signature spice to it and not only give you the shirt off her back but three more out of her closet.

She is survived by family far and wide and we invite you to join us as we Celebrate her life on October 10th at 2:00 pm at the Grangeville Christian Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, do a kind gesture and think of her.