Lady Lou Terry Hawkins, 86, of Alpine, an educator, singer, musician, rancher, business owner, and state senior tennis champion, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2015 in Alpine.
Services are 10am Thursday, May 21 in Elm Grove Cemetery in Alpine, followed by an 11am service at the First United Methodist Church. All friends and family are invited to a reception following the church service.
Lady Lou Terry Hawkins
Lady Hawkins was born March 17, 1929 in Valentine. She graduated from Alpine High School and received her Bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education with a minor in English from TSCW, now Texas Women’s University in Denton. Playing violin, she served as concertmistress of the TSCW orchestra.
She taught English at Sonora High School, where she met and married T.M. “Buddy” Hawkins, the football coach. In 1951, the couple moved to Odessa, where they engaged in various businesses. In 1964, they established Hawkins Construction Company, where Buddy served as general contractor and Lady prepared bids and served as the company accountant. In 1986, they sold their business to their son, Tommy Hawkins, who continues to manage the thriving company, building and reconstructing residences and businesses throughout West Texas.
The couple belonged to the Wesley Class at First United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where Lady sang in the church choir and served as interim choir director for adult and children’s choirs. Lady was a talented flower arranger, decorating for banquets, church services, and other events. She was a member of the Odessa Garden Club and won several awards for her flower arrangements.
Lady’s joy in later life was playing doubles tennis. Playing at a 4.0 level, she and her partner, Joy Pollard, won the State Super Seniors tournament on two occasions.
In May 2012, Lady and Buddy moved to Lady’s beloved Alpine to live with daughter Chachi Hawkins. Upon her arrival in Alpine, Lady joined the First Methodist Church. Lady and Buddy cherished moving back to Alpine to spend their days riding over and working at the Triangle H Ranch south of Alpine. Buddy Hawkins died in Alpine on October 5, 2014.
Lady Hawkins is survived by her three children and their families, Lady Chachi Hawkins of Alpine; Terry Hawkins and husband, Dr. Douglas Klepper, of Lubbock; and Tommy Hawkins and his wife, Tammy, of Odessa; also three grandchildren and their families, TC Hawkins and wife, Julie, and their two children, Kody and Kacy of Alpine; and Lora Kirkland and her husband, Chad, and their two daughters, Kylie and Libby, of Willow Park, Texas; and Natalie Klepper of San Marcos.
She was predeceased by her parents, Lady Bunton Terry and King Terry Sr., and her brother, King Terry Jr., all pioneer ranchers near Alpine.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the West Texas Boys Ranch; 10223 Boys Ranch Road, San Angelo, TX 76904.