Margaret (Ashley) Hawkins

Margaret Ashley Hawkins, our loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went to be with her Lord and Savior on Dec. 22, 2012, at age 85.

Visitation will be at First Baptist Church, Commerce, from 6 to 8 on Friday.  Funeral services will be held Saturday at First Baptist Church, 2:00 p.m.. Margaret was born in Lamesa, Texas, Sept. 12, 1927, to Ira and Katie Lou Ashley.  She graduated from Lamesa High School in 1944 and from Texas Tech University in 1948 with a teaching certificate in home economics.  She taught school at Sterling City, until her marriage to high school sweetheart, Ernest Hawkins, in 1949.  They celebrated their 63rd anniversary on Jan. 30, 2012.

Margaret and Ernest moved to Paris, Texas, in 1950 when Paris Junior College hired Ernest to coach football and basketball.  Margaret then used all her homemaking skills to create a beautiful, loving home for her family including Kathy (1950), Lu Anne (1951), and Ray (1954).

In 1957 the Hawkins family moved to Commerce, where Ernest coached at East Texas State University until partial retirement in 1986 and full retirement in 1995.  Margaret was his biggest supporter in his many endeavors thoughout the years.

Margaret's faith was apparent in all aspects of her life.  She was kind, caring, and generous with her love to all who knew her.  She taught Sunday School and was very active in WMU, as well as leading and participating in many of the church programs over the years.

She was 50-year member of Commerce Psychology Club where she served as an officer many times.  She was also a charter member of the Commerce Mah Jongg Club that met every Thursday for years.  She had a lifelong love of antiques and in earlier years managed her own store.  Margaret loved people and was very generous to those in need and to many charities.  She always displayed and encouraged a positive, compassionate, and sharing attitude toward life and others.  Family was her greatest joy as she delighted in school performances, sports, games, and holiday celebrations over the years.

She and Ernest loved to travel and explored Europe and U.S. after Ernest's retirement. In the later years she especially enjoyed annual cruises with her children and their spouses.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ernest, daughters Kathy Campbell of Commerce and Lu Anne Bourland and husband Earl of  Terrell, and son Ray Hawkins and wife Susan of Greenville.  She has six grandsons: Jayson Campbell and wife Ericka of Commerce, Billy Bourland and wife Nancy of Terrell, Bo Bourland and wife Heather of Seymour, Daken Denny and wife Dennisha of Greenville, and Alan Hawkins of Flower Mound.  She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and loving church family and numerous PJC and ETSU coaches and athletes and their families.

Margaret looked forward to joyously reuniting with those waiting in heaven including her parents, sister, Sue Winter of Idalou, Texas, and two brother-in-laws, Buddy Winter and Edgar Hawkins.

Margaret will be remembered for her strong faith, servant spirit, and gentle love by all who knew her.  She died knowing she was loved and was assured of her salvation. How thankful and grateful to God we are for the years we had with her.

Her adoring grandsons and nephew Jay Winter of Idalou will serve as pallbearers.

Commerce Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 1401 Washington, Commerce, Texas 75428.

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