Shirley Leon Hawkins, 85, of Tavares, Florida passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday April 27, 2023.
He was born in Sorrento, Illinois to Leon and Eva Hawkins and moved to Florida from Illinois in 1958. He was the owner and operator of a custom grain harvesting business, traveling across the Midwest plains until 1986. At that point he began his career as a deliveryman for Ready Ice of Tavares working there 15 years before retiring. He was a member and Deacon of First Baptist Church of Tavares for over 50 years. He was a member of the Bahia Shrine for over 50 years and was a volunteer for the Lake County Mission. He loved family parties, playing card games, such as Rook and Hand in Foot and driving his golf cart around the Tavares waterfront. He also loved fishing, watching old western movies and attending his great-grandchildren’s baptisms.
Mr. Hawkins is survived by his loving wife of 42 years: Sara of Tavares, Florida; daughter Sharon (Jack) Rogers of Leesburg, Florida; a son Mark (Landon) Hawkins of Umatilla, Florida; Sara’s three sons: David (Debbie) Crowe of Ft. Pierce, Florida, Dennis (Cindy) Crowe of St. Cloud, Florida, and Curtis Crowe of Knoxville, Tennessee. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Mr. Hawkins was pre-deceased by his daughter: Linda Will) Hodges of Grand Island, Florida.
Funeral services for Mr. Hawkins will be held Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 11 AM at the First Baptist Church of Umatilla with Pastor Brooks Braswell officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be from 9:30 am until the funeral hour. Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory entrusted with the arrangements.
