Obituary

Irvy F. Hawkins, Peculiar, Missouri, was born in Braymer, Missouri, the son of Laura (Edna) Wilds and Irvy Francis Hawkins. Irvy passed away January 15, 2020, at the age of 86. He attended a one-room school as a child and graduated from Braymer High School in 1951. As a young man, many people knew him as “I.F.” Irvy lived in several places during his life including the Kansas City, Missouri, metro area; Whittier, California; Harrison, Arkansas; and Raytown, Missouri, before moving to the rural Peculiar, Missouri, area in 1978, with his wife Marion and step-daughter Julie. He resided in rural Peculiar the remainder of his life. Irvy wed Marion Usnick Bishop May 14, 1977.

Irvy worked at several occupations throughout his life including working at the Oscar Meyer meat packing plant in Kansas City, working for the U.S. Postal Service and running a 7-11 store while he lived in California, and owning and operating a Western Auto store in Harrison, Arkansas. He retired from the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority about 1996, where he had worked driving Metro Buses for many years. After retirement he served as an election judge in Cass County for several years.

Irvy was a member of and faithfully attended the Harrisonville United Methodist Church and was also a member of the Harrisonville United Methodist Men. Irvy enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger days. He and Marion enjoyed travelling with friends and family and enjoyed spending time at their lake house for several years. Irvy liked to play games that challenged his mind. Sudoku was a recent favorite. He was known to be quite good at remembering which cards had been played during card games. He was skilled at making peanut brittle, and for several years there was a family tradition of making peanut butter balls together for the holidays. For the last several years, as long as his health permitted, he was dedicated to regularly exercising at the facilities provided at Cass Regional, and he rarely missed spending time with friends at morning coffee in town.

Irvy was predeceased by his parents and siblings Edna (Frances) Hawkins Miller and Billie Hawkins and by his wife Marion of 38 years, who passed away in 2015. Irvy is survived by his sisters Nellie Hawkins Davis and Sadie Hawkins Brown and his former spouse Eunice Schmidt Hawkins Buchanan. He is survived by his children Pamela Hawkins Lawrence Kramer (and spouse Chris), Connie Hawkins Sweeten, and Gary Hawkins (and spouse Valerie) and by his step-daughter Julie Bishop McLean (and spouse Frank) and by his grandchildren Joe Lawrence (and spouse Amber), Joshua Lawrence (and spouse Lauren), Chelsea Hawley (and spouse Kenton), Tyler Sweeten, Lee Hawkins, and Jessilyn McLean and by great-grandchildren Chloe, Adelyn, Trinity, Ella, and Ava.

Visitation will be held at the Harrisonville United Methodist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri, on Saturday, January 18, 2020, from 1:00 to 2:30, followed immediately by a celebration of life service at the church. A graveside service was held for the family at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri. If friends and loved ones wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, donations made to the United Methodist Church of Harrisonville will go to the United Methodist Men or the Community Dinners, as designated.