Obituary of Roy Edward Hawkins

Roy "Sonny" Hawkins, 73, passed away Saturday evening, Oct. 12, 2013, at his home in Newton, under the care of Skiff Hospice. A Time of Remembrances for Sonny, will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 17, 2013, at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton. A time of Fellowship with the Family, will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday until 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Sugar Grove (Metz) Cemetery, rural Newton. In lieu of flowers memorials have been designated in Roy's name. Roy Edward Hawkins "Sonny", the son of Edward Roy and Mary Viola (Kelly) Hawkins, was born November 14, 1939, in the state of New York, and he was a high school graduate. He had been married to Nancy (Smith) Hawkins, for several years. Sonny lived in Port Orchard, WA, a longtime resident of Iowa City, prior to moving to the Newton area. Over the years he was employed as a Yellow Cab Driver in Iowa City, in construction as a roofer, employed as a welder at a recycling plant, and owned and operated at lawn service/snow removal company, and was retired. Sonny married Harriet Laina Hawkins on July 28, 1978, in Port Orchard. He devoted his life to his family and friends, and enjoyed car races, car demolition derby driving, Prairie Meadows, fishing and camping. Those left to honor Sonny's memory include his daughters: Teresa (Harlan) Sharf, Lisa (Rusty) Hogan and Brenda (Rick) Houser, all of Iowa City; his sons: Tony Hansen of Ogden, UT, Mike Hansen of Missoula, MT and Jeff Hansen of Newton; his eleven grandchildren and two granddaughters; a brother Terry Hawkins of Port Orchard; and his friends. Sonny was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Laina on Jan. 22, 2007; a granddaughter Crystal Lee Hawkins; and his sister Ann Netser.