Ruby Hawkins

Ruby Mae (Palmer) Hawkins, 98, passed away on November 28, 2016 in West Woods of Niles where she had been a resident for ten years. She loved her “home” and they loved her.

Mrs. Hawkins was born on March 30, 1918 in Baker, MT to the late Herbert and Pearl (Jones) Palmer and resided in Mellette, SD her entire life until coming to Michigan to live with a daughter in 2002.

She was married to Donald Hawkins in 1936 and he preceded her in death in 1994. She was the sixth and last surviving of eight children. She leaves to mourn her passing a son, Terry (Gail) Hawkins of Mellette, SD and Mesa, AZ; two daughters, Mary Hawkins-Fischer of Phoenix, AZ, and Sherry Wanko of Niles, MI; eight grandchildren, including David Wanko, Niles, MI, Kevin (Arisa) Wanko, Lawton, MI, and Brian Wanko, Alexandria, VA; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held in the Northwestern United Methodist Church in Mellette, SD on December 3, 2016. Following the service, she will be laid to rest by her husband at the Mellette Cemetery. If desired, local memorials may be directed to the Old Rugged Cross Association, c/o Pokagon United Methodist Church, 31393 Kansas St., Dowagiac, MI 49047 or to the Mellette Community Hall Fund, Mellette, SD 57461.

Local arrangements are through Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Services, Niles, MI and final services through Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home, Redfield, SD.