Sara
Lynn Owen Hawkins, born on February 12, 1938, in Doans/Vernon, Texas,
to Roy Hope and Dora Ketchersid Owen, passed away on February 1,
2025, in Burlington, Vt.
Sara
was the beloved wife of Jean Paul Hawkins (deceased January 19, 2025)
and the devoted mother of Kent Douglas Hawkins (wife Laurie) of
Louisiana and Paul Owen Hawkins (partner Howdy Russell) of Vermont.
She is survived by her two sons; two grandchildren; four
great-grandchildren; remaining brother of eight siblings, Dwayne Owen
of Oklahoma; in-laws Joe and Irma Hawkins of Texas and Jo Ann Hawkins
of Missouri; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Sara
was born and raised in Vernon, Texas. After meeting and marrying
Jean, they lived in Missouri and Kentucky and eventually settled in
Danville, Ark., where they lived for 42 years. She was a teacher for
more than 36 years in Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas, primarily
elementary school, raising several generations of school students
with her love, consistent discipline, fun, sung spelling tests and
great reading voice that brought books to life.
Sara
was a treasured wife, mother, aunt, coworker and friend to many. She
found joy in her family, students, church, community and neighbors.
She was an avid reader; served her church communities with passion
and grace; was involved with the local chapter of her music club,
Business and Professional Women, and American Legion Women’s
Auxiliary, in which she sponsored generations of students to Arkansas
Girls State; and sang in the church choir and at many funerals,
weddings and special events. Sara never met a stranger, and when
meeting anyone for either a moment or days, she loved getting their
stories, family backgrounds and dreams.
A
memorial service will be held at the United Church of Christ in
Hinesburg, Vt, in summer 2025. She will be celebrated along with her
husband, Jean, who predeceased her by two weeks. In lieu of flowers,
please make any gifts via donations to CASA-Court Appointed Special
Advocate (Arkansas’ guardian ad litem), specifically the
Booneville, Ark., branch, at casaofthetripeaks.org/donate.
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2025.
I knew Jean and Sara from their days in Kentucky. We all attended Shiner Church of Christ. They were like bonus parents to my sister and me. Jean taught me how to shoot a 22 and how to hold a snake. Sara was a mom extraordinaire and Sunday school teacher.
One strong memory is of a Halloween gathering. Sara had the kids (and maybe the adults) spellbound with a reading of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart. After that, I stayed fascinated with Poe’s macabre poems and stories. Sara was always the sunniest person in the room, but that night, dressed in black with a quietly eerie rendition of the story, we all heard a beating heart under the floorboards!
Until we meet again Sara.