Ruby Mae Hawkins, of Niles

Published 8:39 am Wednesday, November 30, 2016

March 30, 1918 — Nov. 28, 2016

Ruby Mae (Palmer) Hawkins, 98, passed away Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in West Woods of Niles, where she had been a resident for 10 years. She loved her “home,” and they loved her.
Mrs. Hawkins was born March 30, 1918, in Baker, Montanan, to the late Herbert and Pearl (Jones) Palmer, and resided in Mellette, South Dakota, her entire life, until coming to Michigan to live with a daughter in 2002.
She was married to Donald Hawkins in 1936. He preceded her in death in 1994. She was the sixth and last surviving of eight children.

Ruby Mae Hawkins

She leaves to mourn her passing a son, Terry (Gail) Hawkins of Mellette and Mesa, Arizona; two daughters, Mary Hawkins-Fischer of Phoenix and Sherry Wanko of Niles; eight grandchildren, including David Wanko of Niles, Kevin (Arisa) Wanko of Lawton and Brian Wanko of Alexandria, Virginia; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Northwestern United Methodist Church in Mellette. Following the service, she will be laid to rest next to her husband in Mellette Cemetery. If desired, local memorials may be directed to the Old Rugged Cross Association, c/o Pokagon United Methodist Church, 31393 Kansas St., Dowagiac, MI 49047, or to the Mellette Community Hall Fund, Mellette, SD 57461.
Local arrangements are through Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Services in Niles, and final services were made through Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield.