LENA FLORENCE HAWKINS

Lena Florence Hawkins was born January 10, 1923 in Douglas County, Missouri the daughter of Kelly and Hada (Jenkins) Brown and passed from this life on January 12, 2018.

Lena graduated from Louisburg High School and was united in marriage to Glenn Eugene Hawkins of Buffalo, Missouri on April 29, 1940. Glenn and Lena made their home in or near Buffalo and to this union two daughters were born, Darlena Ann and Glenda Sue.

Lena was a devout mother, wife, community supporter and partner in business with her husband. After his death June 6, 1981, she continued to operate the family real estate business until her retirement in 2008.

As the daughters grew and matured, Lena joined her husband as a fulltime member and partner in Hawkins and Hawkins Real Estate and continued to be active in supporting national, state, regional, and local real estate organizations. Lena was a Charter Member of the Missouri Association of Realtors Honor Society. During more than 60 years of service in the Real Estate Profession, she was an officer, member, and served on various committees in the Ozark Board of Realtors. Lena received the Honor Society in Education Award twelve consecutive years for support of the continuing realtor education program.

She was recognized by the University of Missouri Extension for leadership, guidance, and service given to the extension program. Lena was lifelong supporter of Buffalo community activities. As a longtime continuous member of the First Baptist Church of Buffalo, her dedicated service included teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She supported and was a part of the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce from inception. She was honored by the Cornerstone Award for her long-standing contributions to the community including special recognition for work in education and uplifting of area youth. Other community service included support for the local Kiwanis club, active member and president of the local PTA, and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Meyango Chapter.

Lena was preceded in death by her parents, Kelly and Hada Brown of Buffalo, her loving husband Glenn, sister Lorene Tucker Evans, infant sister Jessie; sisters-in-law Mildred (Ulmer) Hawkins and Dorothy (Sheridan) Smallwood; and brothers-in-law Carl Tucker, John Evans, R.C. Adams, and Vern Hawkins.

Lena is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Howard and Darlena Hill of Harker Heights, TX and Abe and Glenda Loudermilk of Buffalo; four grandchildren, Doug and Beverly Hill of Paris, TX, Jenifer and Timothy Brown of Lansing, Kansas; Mike and April Loudermilk, and Steve and Tracy Loudermilk of Knoxville, TN, sister-in-law Dorotha (Dot) Adams of Portland, Oregon, niece Carolyn and Sonny Megown of Buffalo, special friend Cletus Heirigs of Cross Timbers; 11 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 18 at 10 a.m. in the Montgomery-Viets Chapel with Rev. Claire Reed and Rev. Russell Adams officiating. Pallbearers will be Doug Hill, Mike Loudermilk, Steve Loudermilk, Abram Loudermilk, Chris Lindsey, and Tim Brown. Honorary Pallbearers will be John Dull, Bill Ware, Bill Ray, Dewey Bramwell, Micky McGuire, Gary Turner, Bob Wommack, Sonny Megown and Gary Turner. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery under direction of the Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Memorials may be made out to The Buffalo First Baptist Church.

(Paid memorial provided by family)