Obituary of Gary Roger Hawkins

Gary Hawkins of The Village of Caroline, formerly of Farmington and South Lyon, MI, passed away at the age of 80 on December 19, 2020.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Marcelle Hawkins (nee Boudreau), siblings Ronald (Paula) Hawkins, and Kay (Derrell) Everitt.  Gary was the treasured father and role model to six children and their spouses:  Gary Daniel & Susan Hawkins; Lori & Sherry Peterson-Hawkins; Leslie & Damon Ajlouny; Shelly & Thomas Burkhardt; Rhonda & Henry McNally; and Michael & Diane Hawkins.  He was the proud granddad of 22:  Stephanie & Jamie; Bella, Atavia, Coltyn, Avel, & Alessandra; Drake, Trent, & Jenna; Jamie (Mai Vu), Hunter (Sydney) & Lydia; Christian, Devin (Nicholas), Alicyn, & Andrea; and Anna, Katy, Molly, Samuel, & Tessa.  Gary will also be missed by his 10 great-grandchildren and 11 nieces, nephews, and their children.

Gary was born in Oklahoma City, OK to Raymond & Eileen Hawkins.  He and Marcelle met on a blind date in high school in Dallas, Texas and married on April 7, 1961.  Gary attended Texas Tech University and started a long career in the automotive industry as an engineer, first with Ford Motor Company and ultimately retiring from Magna International in 2005.  Gary’s favorite thing was spending time with family and friends, including golfing, playing bridge, bowling, and hosting regular family dinners.  Gary & Marcelle joined Lakelands Golf and Country Club, where he served as club president in 2004.  They made many friends at Lakelands, some who wintered in Florida, inspiring their permanent move to The Villages in 2006.  Gary and Marcelle immediately embraced retirement in The Villages where they have made many new lifelong friends. Gary especially enjoyed golf, music and theatre, and watching the sunsets. Their greatest joy over the last 14 years in The Villages has been sharing it all with their children, in-laws, and grandchildren who visit often.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 3, 2021 at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in the Villages during the 11th bi-annual Hawkins family reunion. Sentiments may be left online at www.hiers-baxley.com.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his memory to:

• The COPD Foundation www.copdfoundation.org
• University of Florida Shands Hospital https://giving.ufhealth.org/

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

Abraham Lincoln