Don Worden Hawke

Born June 21, 1913 - Died July 25, 2009

Our dad, Don Worden Hawke, life-time resident of Provo, finally left his beloved home for a better place, Saturday, July 25, 2009, at the age of 96.

Dad was born June 21, 1913, to Charlie and Erma Collins Hawke, in Provo.

We have always known how much his parents, brother, sisters, and his entire family of many relatives in Provo, meant to him.

He taught us to be grateful for our heritage.

As a young man, Dad loved exploring the hills and mountains surrounding Utah Valley. He also enjoyed fishing and swimming in Utah Lake and the Provo River.

He enjoyed growing up in Provo, and was grateful to live here his entire life.

He loved Provo, Utah and America, and we knew it. He appreciated the many friends he made here in his life-time.

His life was an example to us, his children, of honesty, hard work, and sacrifice.

We love him for that example, and are grateful for those qualities.
He graduated from Provo High School and attended Brigham Young University. He enjoyed doing carpentry work as a hobby and as a trade.

He worked hard at Tri State Lumber Company and Ferre's Mill in Provo for many years, and was able to create many beautiful things. He also worked several years at Geneva Steel Company.

Dad's great love was his family, which consisted of his parents, brother, sisters, his wife, children and their spouses, 28 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He gladly helped all of us as much as he could his entire life.

Dad enjoyed all sports. He particularly loved playing football when he was young and soft ball as a young married man. He coached little league teams when his sons were that age, and he also enjoyed playing ball with them.

He loved BYU football and basketball, and listened to them on the radio, then was grateful when he could watch them on TV. He enjoyed attending the games when he could.

Dad served gladly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He particularly enjoyed working in the Scouting program. Many young men were very special to him. He taught them cooking, hiking, camping, swimming, and to work hard. Being a good scout was important to him, and his sons and grandsons knew it.

He served in bishoprics in the Provo Second and Eleventh wards. He was proud to be a Seventy much of his life, and enjoyed doing missionary work. He worked hard on his own family history, and liked teaching that to his family and many others.

We think the favorite 18 months of his life was when he and mom served a mission together in the Dallas, Texas mission.

Dad's garden is a family legend. He fed us well as we grew up, and didn't hesitate to share his produce with neighbors and friends. He also liked to hunt and fish when he had the time. We learned to love trout and pheasant at an early age.

Our dad is thankfully survived by our mother, his wife of 73 years, Blanche Moulton, of Heber City; six daughters and two sons, Jeannine Sumpter (Wynston), Mary Dawn Nuzman (Ron), Elaine Allred (Dale), Louise Lyman (Chad), all of Orem; Kathy Dokos (Nick M.) of Murray, Joyce Rankin (Greg) of Fairfax, VA, Robert Don (Jan) of Lehi, Thomas (Mary Ann) of Federal Way, WA; and dad's only brother, Uncle Charlie (Edna) of Provo.

The Hawke family would like to thank the Alpine Hospice Care Service; particularly Jonathan and Luke Hawes, and Dana Munch for their kind attention and loving care of Don.

Funeral services will be held for our dad on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 2:00 p.m., at the Pioneer Park Ward Chapel, 613 West 300 South, Provo.

Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, on Wednesday evening, July 29, from 6-8 p.m. and at the Ward Chapel on Thursday one hour prior to services.

Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery.

Published in the Daily Herald on July 27, 2009