Obituary for Willis A. Hawkins Jr.
Willis A. Hawkins Jr, 95, of Castro County, entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 21, 2020. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Brooks Chapel. The family will hold private services.
Willis was born on October 30, 1924 in Castro County to Willis Alston Hawkins Sr. and Fredda Griffin Hawkins. He attended schools in Hart and Nazareth, graduating high school from Plainview in 1940. He then served with the Army Air Corps for 3 years during World War II from 1941 to 1945. After his service, he enrolled in West Texas State College in Canyon where he was on the WT men’s Boxing team. He was a 3-time Golden Globe Welter Weight Champion from 1946 to 1948. Willis graduated from West Texas State College in 1949 with a Bachelor of Business degree.
He married Johnnie Ford on June 5, 1948 in Tulia. They raised their four children in Hart, Texas up until her death in 1978. Willis then married Rosalie Markley on April 25, 1981, making their home in Castro County, later moving to Canyon.
Willis was a member of First Christian Church of Canyon, American Legion and Lions Club. He loved playing cards and dominoes, square dancing and singing in the church choir. He enjoyed being around and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their Poppy will always be remembered for his special smile and his special heart full of love.
Willis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Johnnie; siblings, Mildred Hawkins, Lora Mack Wolfer, Sister Mary Hawkins, Dr. Theron Hawkins, Gus Hawkins, and Robert Lewis; son, Quincy Ford Hawkins; and grandsons, Quinton Hawkins and John Scott Farris.
Survivors include his wife, Rosalie Hawkins; son, WA Hawkins III, of Hart; daughters, Gaylene Reinart and husband Wayne, of Hereford, Suzanne Henderson and husband, Tim of Amarillo, and Daughter in law, Sue Hawkins, of Hart; 20 grandchildren, including Reyla Aldridge and husband Tracy, of Booker, Kelly Brewer and husband, Tim of Canyon, Shelly Hunsaker and husband, Dusty of Amarillo, Stephanie Schilling and husband Kyle, of Dumas, Adrian Farris and wife Stephanie, of Amarillo, Alston Farris and wife, Karla of Tulia, Jeremy Hawkins and wife Robin, of Lubbock, Justin Hawkins of New Orleans, LA, and Madison Witt of Ft. Worth. Together they shared Rosalie’s children, Kathy Kuhne, Lonnie Markley, Sonia Dobbs and Karen Moore; and 31 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a special thank you to his caregivers, Lawanda Simpson and Jessica Sena.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First Christian Church, 2011 4th Ave, Canyon, TX 79015 or Kindred Hospice, 2007 S. Coulter St, Amarillo, TX 79016
Willis was born on October 30, 1924 in Castro County to Willis Alston Hawkins Sr. and Fredda Griffin Hawkins. He attended schools in Hart and Nazareth, graduating high school from Plainview in 1940. He then served with the Army Air Corps for 3 years during World War II from 1941 to 1945. After his service, he enrolled in West Texas State College in Canyon where he was on the WT men’s Boxing team. He was a 3-time Golden Globe Welter Weight Champion from 1946 to 1948. Willis graduated from West Texas State College in 1949 with a Bachelor of Business degree.
He married Johnnie Ford on June 5, 1948 in Tulia. They raised their four children in Hart, Texas up until her death in 1978. Willis then married Rosalie Markley on April 25, 1981, making their home in Castro County, later moving to Canyon.
Willis was a member of First Christian Church of Canyon, American Legion and Lions Club. He loved playing cards and dominoes, square dancing and singing in the church choir. He enjoyed being around and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their Poppy will always be remembered for his special smile and his special heart full of love.
Willis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Johnnie; siblings, Mildred Hawkins, Lora Mack Wolfer, Sister Mary Hawkins, Dr. Theron Hawkins, Gus Hawkins, and Robert Lewis; son, Quincy Ford Hawkins; and grandsons, Quinton Hawkins and John Scott Farris.
Survivors include his wife, Rosalie Hawkins; son, WA Hawkins III, of Hart; daughters, Gaylene Reinart and husband Wayne, of Hereford, Suzanne Henderson and husband, Tim of Amarillo, and Daughter in law, Sue Hawkins, of Hart; 20 grandchildren, including Reyla Aldridge and husband Tracy, of Booker, Kelly Brewer and husband, Tim of Canyon, Shelly Hunsaker and husband, Dusty of Amarillo, Stephanie Schilling and husband Kyle, of Dumas, Adrian Farris and wife Stephanie, of Amarillo, Alston Farris and wife, Karla of Tulia, Jeremy Hawkins and wife Robin, of Lubbock, Justin Hawkins of New Orleans, LA, and Madison Witt of Ft. Worth. Together they shared Rosalie’s children, Kathy Kuhne, Lonnie Markley, Sonia Dobbs and Karen Moore; and 31 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a special thank you to his caregivers, Lawanda Simpson and Jessica Sena.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to First Christian Church, 2011 4th Ave, Canyon, TX 79015 or Kindred Hospice, 2007 S. Coulter St, Amarillo, TX 79016