Betty Jean Hawkins

Betty Jean (Bloom) Hawkins, 85, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2016. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00am, Thursday. March 10th in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel. Pastor Steve Bradshaw, Cocollala Cowboy Church, officiating and burial in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Betty Jean (Bloom) Hawkins was born the second child of 3 in Shuylar, Nebraska on July 10, 1930 to Percy and Dorothy Bloom. She was preceded in death by her parents and elder brother Roy. And is survived by her beloved younger sister, Leona Crabb. Her family moved to Sandpoint when she was a young girl. She enjoyed working with her family on the farm because her mother “made it fun“, she said. It was a source of income for the family while her dad was in the armed service. She graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1949 and was valedictorian of her class. She married Wayne Hawkins June 1, 1950, and had 4 children, Randy 1951, Marceen 1952 married to Mike Williams, Gail 1953 married to Corky Kalben, and Kim 1956) all born in Sandpoint, Id. Marceen and Gail still live here, Randy lives in Texas and Kim in Colorado. She has 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren : Randy‘s: Barry married to Luz, Andrea married to Jason with 2 children [Sydnie & Logan] and Seth married to Blanca with one child [Leo]. Marceen’s: Shawn married to Christina with 2 children [Brooke & Nicholas] and Brandi married to Rusty with 2 children Jaizee & Logan], Gail’s: Nicole, Trevor married to Chelsea with 1 child (Mady), and Zachariah married to Sarah [expecting great grandson #8] Betty worked at the Bonner County Courthouse until she quit in January 1986 as Chief Deputy of the Court to be with her husband who retired in 1984. She was able, while her children were young, to work only while school was in session. Summers were a memorable time of swimming at dog beach, camping, baseball and family gatherings. She worked hard at making life seem easy. She enjoyed bowling, cross country skiing, swimming, fishing, horseshoes, knitting, crocheting, and playing cards. She was able for a few years to spend winter months in Tacna, AZ with her husband and many family members. Occasionally they traveled to visit family members in Oregon, Colorado, California and Texas. She started attending the Cocollala Cowboy Church with her husband and family members when it was at the Sagle Senior Center, about 2008, then continued attending when it moved to the present location until her memory impairment made it no longer possible to attend. She accepted Jesus as her Savior 4 years ago and sat quietly listening to the Bible being read and ministry time at Hearthstone Village, which was her home the last 4 years of her life. It is a testament to her loving heart that she accepted with grace, for her children’s sake, with God’s help, her difficult physical and memory struggles when the need came for her move from her home and then a few weeks later the loss of her beloved husband. She laughed often and chatted merrily whenever we visited. Though her memory and speech failed, she always greeted us with love in her eyes. She enjoyed, to the last, looking through magazines and pointing out the beautiful gardens, cute animals and stylish people. She passed away suddenly March 4, 2016, after chatting cheerfully with her morning caregivers.