Robert "Jerry" Hawkins

Robert "Jerry" Hawkins joined his wife Shirley in Heaven on Saturday, July 27, 2024 in Las Palmas Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, exactly 92 years and 10 months from the day he was born. Jerry was born September 27, 1931, in Brazito, New Mexico. His parents, William (Pop) and Mildred (Hawkie) Hawkins came to the Mesilla Valley from Ozark, Arkansas. They had three sons, Bryan, Jerry and Charlie. The family farmed through the depression with help from relatives who came for the much needed work during that era, and continued farming until the late 1980s. Jerry often spoke of his life on the farm, hoeing weeds, planting, harvesting, working with cattle and driving mules for his dad who was a sharecropper, as well as many of their neighboring farmers. His life spanned almost a century, and he very clearly remembered when luxuries such as their own telephone line and indoor bathrooms became a reality to the family.

On June 24, 1950, he married the former Shirley Chandler and began a beautiful and fulfilling life together, filled with love, laughter and happiness, until Shirley's passing in 2012. They had four children, Linda, Robert Jr, Benjamin and William.

He played football in high school, and was an All State Offensive Guard (at 155 pounds!), and after graduation was a tenacious competitor on the softball diamond where he excelled as a catcher for many top notch pitchers in the area. He often marveled at how important athletics were in his life, because of the many and lasting friendships he developed during those days. As testimony to that, he was a little league baseball coach in the 1970s, and often reminisced about his wonderful days coaching the Alameda Blue Sox and the Central Yankees. His teams did well and won the city championship, but the award that he was most proud of was the sportsmanship award presented to the team. Many of those players held a special place in his heart up until the day he passed.

Jerry was an avid fisherman, a great Bridge Player and a huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan, and he and Shirley spent many a day on a lake or next to a river, at a card table playing bridge or watching professional baseball. His greatest joy was in times spent with his family, and he especially loved family camping trips to Willow Creek and Snow Lake, where the family spent many days fishing, playing cards and eating the delicious meals prepared by Shirley. Up to the very end he could recall the best places to fish, and gave precise descriptions of the catch of the day at certain fishing holes, and even the bait used that day! And my oh my, how great were the fish fries!

He loved a good, home cooked meal, and often said he'd eat almost anything, but was especially fond of a good plate of green enchiladas (no chicken please), a nice stack of red enchiladas with an egg, over easy, or enchiladas rellenas at Nopolitas.

Professionally, Jerry retired from White Sands Missile Range after 35 years, where he was an Electrical Estimator, and was also an independent electrical contractor for much of his life. He was very proud of the many electrical jobs he had worked as owner/operator of Jerry's Electric, including the first house on Telshor Blvd, the Loretto Towne Centre and the tall blue spire that used to occupy the parking lot across from the old Union High School, many years ago.

He always said the most important thing was that the entire family was doing well (with his measure of success that everyone had a job and no one was in jail!), and he was quick to brag on each and every one of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Spending the night and playing rummy with Grammie and Grampa Jerry are among his grandkids' favorite memories. The highlight of the past few years was receiving phone calls and visits from many of his offspring. He also greatly valued the many visits and phone calls from his nephew Mike Tarasoff throughout the past several years.

Jerry had a knack for making anyone he encountered feel good about themselves, and he often spoke of the importance of respecting everyone and treating them with kindness. His smile was contagious and he really loved to laugh! He loved a good story, and often regaled those who visited with tales of growing up in depression era Mesilla Valley, always with a humorous twist.

His closest companion has been his dog, "Blackie" who could often be found on Dad's lap watching old westerns, baseball or the news. He often proclaimed, "That is the smartest dog I have ever seen."

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mildred, the love of his life, Shirley, his brothers Charlie and Bryan and his son Ben.

He is survived by his daughter Linda Popp, her husband Wayne and their children Chandra Popp Kurzweil, husband Zach, Heather Popp and Tessa Popp-Gutmann and husband Bryan; son Robert Jr and his wife Denise (Jo), their daughters Natalie, Paige and Ginger Winters and her husband NC; his son Ben's wife Denny, Ben's daughter Jobeth, and Ben's son David, and his wife Kelsey; and son William and his wife Margaret (Meg), their children: Michael and wife Mae; Robert and wife Misty; Patricia Jacoby and husband Jaymie; and daughter Catherine, and twenty three great grandchildren, all of whom occupied a very special place in his heart. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, the sons and daughters of his deceased brothers, Bryan and Charlie. Robert "Grandpa Jerry" was loved by all, and will be sorely missed by all who were blessed to have known him.

A visitation will be held at Getz funeral home on Thursday, September 5, from 500 pm to 600 pm for the family, and 600 pm to 700 pm for the public. Funeral service will be held at St Paul's United Methodist Church at 10:00 am, with burial shortly thereafter at Hillcrest Cemetery.