Mary Louise Hawkins

Mary Lou is survived by her daughters, Peg Herrmann (Rick) of Dublin, OH and Judy Gaul (Vince) of League City, TX and stepdaughters Dale Rowe (Rich) of Alexandria, VA, Jill Lautensack (Bob) of Davidson, NC, fifteen grandchildren, and twenty-four great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by stepson Mark Hawkins (Sunny) and husbands Paul F. Hawkins of West End, NC and Robert E. Ellsworth of Westfield, NJ.

Mary Lou was born on June 7, 1927 in Gary, IN to Elzie E. and Louise Nickerson Tite. She had one older sister, Priscilla Landgraf. Mary Lou graduated from Mt. Lebanon H.S., Mt. Lebanon, PA in 1945 and Chatham University (Pennsylvania College for Women) Pittsburgh, PA in 1948 with a degree in English.

As a devoted wife and mother, Mary Lou learned to adapt to the challenges of moving with Bob's work as a systems and procedures specialist during the early years of computers. Bob's work took them from Pittsburgh, PA to Albany, NY, Irvington, NY and finally Westfield, NJ. From there he commuted into New York City working for CBS, Ingersoll Rand, and then Gulf and Western for eighteen years.

Across their thirty years together, Mary Lou and Bob were involved at their church, in leading Girl Scouts, and acting in local theater (Community Players.) Once Peg and Judy were school-aged Mary Lou worked part time as a medical secretary to a surgeon and pulmonary specialist until Bob's untimely death in 1978.

Through mutual church friends Mary Lou met Paul for what turned out to be a day-long blind date. After their marriage in 1980 they moved to Seven Lakes in West End, NC. Their fifteen grandchildren made many memories of visits to their lakeside home. With Paul retired from Exxon, Mary Lou and he had time to volunteer at their regional hospital, serve Meals on Wheels, and to travel extensively.

Mary Lou was always grateful for their opportunities to travel to many countries and sing together in the car as they visited all fifty states in the USA. On cruises, Paul would laugh anew as Mary Lou told jokes at Open Mic. Even through dementia Mary Lou's wit shined through.

Throughout her life Mary Lou was active in her communities. She sang in her church choirs and several barber shop quartets, one of which entertained Seven Lakes groups as the Andrews Sisters. She held officer positions in The Westfield College Women's Club and PTA. Mary Lou enjoyed playing bridge, games with her grandchildren, dancing, and social dinner groups. She loved to cook, bowl, play golf and write song parodies to honor family and friends.

Due to COVID 19, there will be a virtual memorial service created by family and Reverend Gary Brand of Trinity United Methodist Church, Marble Cliff to honor Mary Lou on Friday, May 14th at 8 PM

Details to be posted soon.

Private interment will be at a future date.

Mary Lou cared for and supported the North Carolina and Columbus Symphonies, Doctors Without Borders, local food banks, and the preservation of our national forests. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to a charity of your choice that would support one of these causes.