Alice Hawkins passed away peacefully at home with her family and loved caregivers by her side on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010. Alice would have been 99 years old on October 1.
Alice was born in Clements, CA to Ernest and Frances Southworth, the eighth of nine children. When Alice was six, the family moved to San Benito County where she rode her pony to school while growing up in South County. After graduating from San Benito Junior College, Alice was employed at the Telephone Company in Hollister. She married Hollister native Charles J. “Jim” Hawkins in 1934 and moved to the Hawkins Ranch in North County. After her marriage, Alice was secretary and bookkeeper to C.N.Hawkins, her father-in-law, and worked in the old Granger Union building in downtown Hollister. Alice later became the bookkeeper for Hawkins Cattle Co. and then Ausaymas Cattle Co. where she worked closely with her eldest son, Jim, until her retirement in 2001.
Alice was a passionate volunteer. She was an original member of Children’s Home Society in San Benito Co., was on the California State Board of Children’s Home Society, a volunteer and director of volunteers for Hazel Hawkins Hospital where she started the Candy Striper program for high school girls. Alice received the San Benito Co. Chapter of the American Red Cross Lifetime of Service Award for being a Red Cross volunteer since 1940, was a driver for the American Cancer Society driving cancer patients to their out of town treatments until she was 89 years old, many times cooking and delivering meals to her patients and leaving them with a nice leg massage. In 1980 Alice was named San Benito County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Her compassionate and generous heart knew no limits.
Alice was a member of the Hollister United Methodist Church where her invaluable contributions spanned more than 50 years. The congregation will long remember her signature floral arrangements and tireless support.
Alice was predeceased by her husband Jim in 1975 after 41 years of marriage and their two week old son “Dickie” in 1937. She is survived by three children, sons Thomas J. “Jim” Hawkins (Sharon) and Charles R. “Chuck” Hawkins (Barb) of Hollister, daughter Margaret H. “Peggy” Widelock (John) of Warragul, Victoria, Australia, two grandsons Brian (Heidi) Hawkins of Hollister and Robert Hawkins of San Mateo, five great-grandchildren Shelby, Holly, Charlie, Blake and Thomas and her dedicated and loving caregivers Tina Faasisila and family, Michelle Hernandez and family and Toli Hurley.
Private services are pending through Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions are preferred to Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, Hospice of the Central Coast or Hollister United Methodist Church c/o the Mortuary.
