Grace Elizabeth Hawkins, 96, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. Born in Windsor, Canada to Nelson and Grace Brownyer,
Grace grew up in the Detroit area with her family before moving to Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she attended high school with Paul Newman.
Grace started nursing school and in 1944, enlisted in the US Navy. She was stationed in San Diego with her brother and was able to further her nursing education through her service. While in the Navy, she dated Rod Steiger (before he was an actor).
Grace met her future husband, John Hawkins, at a church social and they began their married life in East Lansing, where they both attended MSU. While she enjoyed singing in the St. Paul's Episcopal Church choir and serving as the parish secretary, and perfecting her needlepoint and cross-stitching, Grace loved being with her family and caring for them the most.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings, Robert Brownyer and Kathryn Esling.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 73 years, John Hawkins; her children, Nancy (Mark) Rudd, Carol (John) Sleight, John David (Christi) Hawkins, and Richard (Melissa) Hawkins; her 10 grandchildren; her 22 great-grandchildren; and her new great-great-grandchild.
We wish to thank The Willows of East Lansing for the excellent care Mom received over the last five years.
A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Rose Cemetery in Bath.
Grace grew up in the Detroit area with her family before moving to Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she attended high school with Paul Newman.
Grace started nursing school and in 1944, enlisted in the US Navy. She was stationed in San Diego with her brother and was able to further her nursing education through her service. While in the Navy, she dated Rod Steiger (before he was an actor).
Grace met her future husband, John Hawkins, at a church social and they began their married life in East Lansing, where they both attended MSU. While she enjoyed singing in the St. Paul's Episcopal Church choir and serving as the parish secretary, and perfecting her needlepoint and cross-stitching, Grace loved being with her family and caring for them the most.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings, Robert Brownyer and Kathryn Esling.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 73 years, John Hawkins; her children, Nancy (Mark) Rudd, Carol (John) Sleight, John David (Christi) Hawkins, and Richard (Melissa) Hawkins; her 10 grandchildren; her 22 great-grandchildren; and her new great-great-grandchild.
We wish to thank The Willows of East Lansing for the excellent care Mom received over the last five years.
A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Rose Cemetery in Bath.
Grace Elizabeth Hawkins, 96, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. Born in Windsor, Canada to Nelson and Grace Brownyer,
Grace grew up in the Detroit area with her family before moving to Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she attended high school with Paul Newman.
Grace started nursing school and in 1944, enlisted in the US Navy. She was stationed in San Diego with her brother and was able to further her nursing education through her service. While in the Navy, she dated Rod Steiger (before he was an actor).
Grace met her future husband, John Hawkins, at a church social and they began their married life in East Lansing, where they both attended MSU. While she enjoyed singing in the St. Paul's Episcopal Church choir and serving as the parish secretary, and perfecting her needlepoint and cross-stitching, Grace loved being with her family and caring for them the most.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings, Robert Brownyer and Kathryn Esling.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 73 years, John Hawkins; her children, Nancy (Mark) Rudd, Carol (John) Sleight, John David (Christi) Hawkins, and Richard (Melissa) Hawkins; her 10 grandchildren; her 22 great-grandchildren; and her new great-great-grandchild.
We wish to thank The Willows of East Lansing for the excellent care Mom received over the last five years.
A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Rose Cemetery in Bath.
Grace grew up in the Detroit area with her family before moving to Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she attended high school with Paul Newman.
Grace started nursing school and in 1944, enlisted in the US Navy. She was stationed in San Diego with her brother and was able to further her nursing education through her service. While in the Navy, she dated Rod Steiger (before he was an actor).
Grace met her future husband, John Hawkins, at a church social and they began their married life in East Lansing, where they both attended MSU. While she enjoyed singing in the St. Paul's Episcopal Church choir and serving as the parish secretary, and perfecting her needlepoint and cross-stitching, Grace loved being with her family and caring for them the most.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings, Robert Brownyer and Kathryn Esling.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 73 years, John Hawkins; her children, Nancy (Mark) Rudd, Carol (John) Sleight, John David (Christi) Hawkins, and Richard (Melissa) Hawkins; her 10 grandchildren; her 22 great-grandchildren; and her new great-great-grandchild.
We wish to thank The Willows of East Lansing for the excellent care Mom received over the last five years.
A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Rose Cemetery in Bath.
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