Deacon Melvin "Mickey" Hawkins

Deacon Mickey Hawkins, 76, was very peacefully called home to the Lord on May 20, 2024, after a hard-fought 2-1/2 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and 4 children.
A U.S. Army Veteran who proudly served his country in Vietnam from 1968-69, he returned to marry the love of his life, Patty, on the 4th of July in 1970.
Mickey worked for Ohio Bell for 31 years until he retired. He was soon appointed by Bishop James Griffin to be the Director of Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center. After his time at the retreat center, Mickey's final employment was as a bus driver for V.A.T. and the Westerville City Schools.
Mickey has been a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for 48 years. He, along with five other parents, started the St. Paul Athletic Association in the early 1980s, serving as president until the fall of 1992. He enjoyed coaching football and baseball while his sons played for the Rams. Another area Mickey served his parish was the Stewardship Employment Ministry, serving the unemployed, underemployed, and those facing a loss of employment.
On February 3, 2001, Mickey was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate and served the parish of St. Paul for 23 years. As a Deacon, Mickey loved preaching and proclaiming the Gospel. He performed countless Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals, including proudly marrying his four children and baptizing his nine grandchildren.
Mickey enjoyed spending time outdoors, planting flowers, taking walks, visiting with friends, watching OSU and Cleveland Browns games, but most of all, being with his family, especially proudly cheering on his grandchildren in all their activities.
Deacon Mickey is preceded in death by his twin daughters, Mary and Ann, parents, Mel and Mary Catherine Hawkins, brother Monsignor Stephen Hawkins, and father and mother-in-law, Bud and Lena Morey.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Patty, proud children Scott (Jennifer), Joe (Olivia), Dan (Amy), and Karen (Jamie) Hardy, his 9 beautiful grandchildren Andrew, Taylor, Michayla, Ava, Lena, Emily, Luke, J.P., and Connor, brothers Mark (Jody), and Jeff (Wendy), numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, especially his best friend since 3rd grade Jim (Debbie) Scartz.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 4-8 PM, at ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 313 N. State St., with a funeral Mass the following day, May 29, 2024, at 10:30 AM with burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to any of the following:
James Cancer Hospital- Cure for Pancreatic Cancer Fund: www.give.osu.edu/inmemoryofmickey
Care360 Hospice
Check or money order to made out to Care360 Hospice and mailed to:
Care360 Hospice, Suite 100, Hilliard, OH 43026; in the memo, please write "In Memory of Mickey
Hawkins"
Catholic Diocese Vocations
Check or money order to Diocese of Columbus and mailed to:
Diocese of Columbus, 197 E. Gay St., Columbus, OH 43215; in the memo, please write "Vocations Office
in Memory of Dcn. Mickey Hawkins" St. Paul Parish Endowment Fund
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