Born November 2, 1926 in Eaton Rapids, MI to Floyd and Ruth (Ballard) Hawley; he married Eleanor Hayward on February 18, 1946 in New York, NY and she survives of Peoria.
Also surviving are his children, Richard D (Carolyn) Hawley of East Peoria, William D (Pat) Hawley of Peoria and Nonie C (Tony, Jr) Fiumara of Georgetown, Texas; 6 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; sisters Elaine Cavender and Janice (Lyle) Creyts; brother Myrl (Maida) Hawley; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a grandson and great grandson.
He served in the US Navy during WWII and was proud to have joined the September 2013 Honor Flight to Washington DC. As a young man Richard was an accomplished boxer and used his skills to represent his ship in many seaborn matches.
Rev. Hawley was a member of and the Pastor of the North Side Church of the Nazarene in Peoria until his retirement in 1991. In October 2009 he was honored with the distinction of Pastor Emeritus of the church. From 1978 to 1991, Rev. Hawley served as the Work & Witness Coordinator for the Northwestern Illinois District, leading numerous volunteer mission teams building Nazarene churches and parsonages around the world.
He began his ministry by graduating from the Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL with his ministerial degree.
During his tenure in Peoria he volunteered as a Chaplain for Methodist Hospital as well as the manager for the Manville Nazarene Campground. In retirement, he continued service to his Lord through missions as he and his wife spent 17 years building churches and parsonages for Navajo and Spanish congregations in Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Rev. Hawley also served as a substitute teacher for District 150 in Peoria for many years and notably served in each school in the district, touching the lives of a multitude of youths in his classrooms.
His love of the outdoors was evident in his lifelong passion for deer hunting as he made many trips to hunt on Michigan’s Bois Blanc Island.
He will be remembered for his love and devotion to God and his family. His caring was often shown by gentle and good-natured teasing. He will be missed by all who knew him, even if you were a “knuckle-head”.
Rev. Hawley lived the life of a pastor, ministering until his last breath when the Lord called him home.
Rev. Hawley’s life and ministry will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 23rd, at the North Side Church of the Nazarene in Peoria. Dr. John Spohn and the Rev. Scott Sherwood will officiate. Burial will follow at Parkview Cemetery with Navy Funeral Honors.
Visitation will be 4-7 PM on Friday, January 22nd at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria and one hour prior to the funeral at his church.
The family suggests memorials to North Side Church of the Nazarene.
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