James Hawks

James H. Hawks

Age 80 of Mazon and formerly Clinton and Wilmington, Illinois, passed away Friday afternoon September 23, 2011 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home in Joliet.

Born August 29, 1931 in Hayward, Missouri, James was a son of the late Robert E. and Myrtle Alvine Ball-Hawks. He was raised in Wardell, Missouri and was a 1951 graduate of Wardell High School. On July 6, 1951, James married Mary L. Womack in Oceola, Arkansas and together they resided in Wilmington from 1973 - 1993, Clinton, Illinois from 1993 - 2010 and most recently moved to Mazon. James began his career with Caterpillar Tractor Company in 1966 and retired as a Machine Operator in 1992 after 26 years of faithful service. While in Wilmington he attended the First Baptist Church. James enjoyed raising horses, fishing and hunting, and will be remembered as a great St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years Mary; five children: Lenny (Barbara) Hawks of Colorado, Sherita (Charles) Friddle of Wilmington, Alan (Donna) Hawks of South Carolina, Glen (Carla) Hawks of Plainfield and Deb (Doug) Henline of Coal City; (18) grandchildren; (13) great grandchildren; two brothers and five sisters: Sally (Bob) Frazier, Mary Frances (Joe) Campbell, Sydney (Dot) Hawks, Doug (Sandy) Hawks, Judy (Clarence) Whitt, Brenda (Roy) Scheidhauer and Joyce (Emery) Bazzell; brothers and sisters-in-law: Sue Hawks, Harlond (Frances) Womack, Paul (Billie) Womack, Geraldine Broyles and Ruth (Leonard) Williams and numerous nieces and nephews.

James was preceded in death by his parents; one son Terry Hawks; one sister Doris (James) Faucett; one brother Bobby Dale Hawks and one brother-in-law Dewey Womack.

The family will receive friends on Monday September 26, 2011 between the hours of 6:00PM and 8:00PM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Funeral services will follow Tuesday September 27th at 10:00AM in the funeral home with Pastor Jim Rust officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Wilmington.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in James memory to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago,IL 60631 or Joliet Area Community Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, Illinois 60431.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)