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Verle A. "Jack" Hawkins

November 22, 1923 - August 15, 2017

Verle A. "Jack" Hawkins Obituary (Age 93) After a long and enjoyable life, Jack died peacefully on August 15, 2017, at the Spokane Hospice House South Hill. He was born November 22, 1923, in Kansas City, MO, the youngest of three children of Gardner and Hallie Hawkins. At the age of 3 the family moved to Houston MO, a small town of about 1500 people in the Ozarks. It was there that he attended the Oak Hill School, a one-room schoolhouse. He often talked fondly of how sweet and kind his mother was. In January 1941, at the age of 17, he left home to join his brother at a CCC camp in Iowa. Sadly, his mother passed away 4 days later but he didnt learn about it for two weeks, so he missed her funeral. Shortly thereafter he returned to the family home to care for his elderly father but after a few months he left home to explore the country. Jack enlisted in the Army in 1944, and after a two-year tour of duty in the Army he enlisted in the Air Force, both times serving in the Occupation Forces in Europe following WWII. One of the worst days in the Army was when they visited Dachau the day after the Liberation. He described seeing walking skeletons and other horrors of the war. This was something that haunted him for the rest of his life. After his military service Jack traveled the US, exploring various cities and towns and working various jobs. In November 1953 Jack was driving a taxicab in St Louis MO when he picked up a young lady who had called for a taxi to take her home from a dinner party. She had already turned away two other cabs but decided to take this one. He saw that she was sad, and offered to take her to the zoo the next day. Six weeks later, on January 3, 1954, he married her, Selma (aka Aunt Judy) Apple. They moved west and settled in the Seattle area, where they raised three daughters. He was proud that he maintained sobriety for more than 52 years. Jack enjoyed taking his daughters to many baseball games with the Seattle Angels and later, the Seattle Pilots, as well as fishing in Eastern Washington. Jack also enjoyed many autumn hunting trips with his brother, Pete, and nephews, Perry, Jerry, and Greg. For several years he was an owner/driver for Farwest Cab in Seattle. Later, he and his wife purchased Plaza Cab in Lynnwood, WA, which they owned for about ten years; during their ownership, the business grew from two cabs to six. Jack retired in 1985. For several years, until the death of his wife, they took many trips throughout the US and world. They enjoyed many (sometime successful!) gambling trips to Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. On one of their early trips abroad they visited Paris with daughter, Judy, while she was serving in the Army in Germany. Some of his favorite places they visited included Malaysia (where they visited his niece, Gwen, and her family in Kuala Lumpur), the Black Sea, the North Sea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Greece, the Arctic Circle, Australia, New Zealand, and many others. In Salzburg, Austria, they stayed where the Sound of Music was filmed. Jack was an avid baseball fan beginning at a very early age (around 7), with the St Louis Cardinals being his favorite team. Until a few years ago he could tell you which team won the World Series in any year and often included details such as the opponent, the winning (or losing) pitcher, the final out, etc. As he moved, he also came to follow the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. Jack and Selma enjoyed playing bridge at the Edmonds Senior Center in Edmonds, WA. After Selmas passing in 1997 Jack sold the family home in Lynnwood and became a snowbird, spending the winters in Mesa AZ and summers in Spokane with his daughter, Susan, and her family. During his time in Mesa, Jack met a lovely lady, Mary Jane Stetson, and they spent nine years enjoying time together playing bridge and poker, and traveling in the US and western Canada. Sadly, she passed away in 2013. Jack moved to Spokane in 2009 where he enjoyed weekly bridge games at the South Hill Senior Center, and occasional trips to Northern Quest casino to play poker and Keno. His last poker and bridge games were just two weeks prior to his death. He adored his two grandsons, Paaqua and Camber. For the past year, he often said that all he really wanted to do was to live long enough to hold his new baby great-granddaughter, Freya, and see his little great-grandson, Loki, again. Last month, with much planning and help, Jack flew with two of his daughters, and his son in law, to Virginia and fulfilled his dream of seeing baby Freya, and toddler, Loki. Two weeks after returning to Spokane, his failing health deteriorated further, until he passed away August 15. Surviving Jack are daughters, Nancy Hawkins, Seattle; Susan Glass (Howard), Spokane; Judy Hawkins (Kevin Bayron), Vancouver WA; grandsons, Paaqua Grant (Caitrin Elwell), Ashburn VA; Camber Grant, Federal Way WA; great-grandchildren, Loki and Freya Elwell (Ashburn VA), and many nieces and nephews who have loved him for many years. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Hallie and Gardner Hawkins I; wife, Selma (Aunt Judy) Hawkins; sister, Grace Benefiel; brother and best friend, Gardner Pete Hawkins II (just last year at age 94); and nephews, Leroy Comstock and Scott Hawkins. Graveside funeral services will be held at Floral Hills Cemetery in Lynnwood, WA. Shiva minyan service will be held at the home of Sue and Howard Glass on Thursday, August 24th at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane South Hill Senior Center, Hospice of Spokane, Temple Beth Shalom, or to the charity of your choice.

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