Judith Jane Hawkins

Judith Jane Calmes Hawkins, 74, of Odessa, passed away on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at her home after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She was born Oct. 3, 1937 in Houston, Texas, the only daughter of Charles Monroe and Mary Kathryn Pierce Calmes. She grew up and attended elementary in Quanah, Texas and Clinton, Okla. and junior high school in Oklahoma City. She graduated in 1955 from Highland Park High School in Dallas. She went on to attend Texas Tech University where she studied Spanish and French received a Bachelors degree in education.

She married Bobby Joe Hawkins May 31, 1958 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Dallas. She was a devoted wife and mother and cherished her husband and family. The couple made their home in Odessa. She and Bob were married for 49 years. He preceded her in death in October of 2007.

She began her teaching career at Ector County Independent School District in 1963, first teaching 6th grade at Sam Houston Elementary. She went on to teach French at Permian High School in 1964 and Bonham Junior High in 1965. She was one of the first teachers on staff when Nimitz Junior High School opened in 1966, where she taught Spanish and served as dean until 1985. She then moved back to Permian where she taught Spanish until her retirement in 1995. She continued to teach part-time at Nimitz after her retirement until 2007. Her passion was teaching and her greatest joy was affecting the lives of thousands students during her many years as an educator for ECISD.

She lead students on many tours of Europe. She was a member of the Ector County Retired Teachers Association and the Texas Retired Teachers Association.

She took great pride in her civic involvements serving as president of the board of the Seabury Center and as chairman of the Texas Tech University Health Science Center Advisory Counsel.

She was a Eucharistic minister at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, where she also served on the Alter Guild and the Vestry. She was a co-chair at the church bookstore and chaired the stewardship committee for the church. She completed the Bible Study Fellowship course and taught a well-attended Sunday school at St. Barnabas for several years.

She was previously a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Odessa.

She was a member of a number of organizations including the Odessa Book Club, the Clock Club, Pan American Round Table and Panhellenic.

She pledged the sorority Zeta Tau Alpha at Texas Tech and was an alumni member. She was past president of the Odessa Duplicate Bridge Club and a life master duplicate bridge player.

She was well traveled, loved to read, sing and entertain. She was beloved by family, friends and anyone who knew her.

She is survived by two daughters, Celinda Hawkins of Odessa; Susan Hawkins Bruner and husband Howard, of Buda; two granddaughters, Audrey Grace Petty and Emma Catherine Petty, both of Austin, two grandsons; Ryan Andrew Bruner and Nicholas Bruner, both of Buda; one brother, Jack Norton Calmes and wife Susie of Dallas; and one special friend, Olin Briggs, of Port Aransas. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob of 49 years; her mother Mary Kathryn Calmes and father Charles Monroe Calmes.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church with Father David Mossbarger and Deacon Judy Cobb officiating.

Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Frank Wilson Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be D.M. McDonald, Pete Garner, Charles Grewell and Richard Owens and Phil Szenasi all of Odessa; Tommy Boley of Dallas, Gene Eddings of Burnet; Gary Puryear of Austin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Odessa. 4141 Tanglewood Lane, Odessa, TX 79762.

Services are entrusted to Frank Wilson Funeral Directors.