Amanda Hawker

Find A Grave Memorial# 19101782

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"Mrs. Hawker won the title of the "ideal mother" around 1938 in connection with a Mother's Day feature when several state papers carried her picture with a story which told of her outstanding motherly qualities. Her picture denotes a noble face and countenance with true motherly instincts." (excerpt of her obituary)

Thomas Hawker married to Amanda Mason on Septembr 27, 1874. He died from throat cancer in 1921.

Thomas was a farmer and surveyor in Shinnston, West Virginia

Obituary: "Funeral services for Mrs. Amanda Hawker, 90, who passed away at 1 o'clock a.m., March 31, 1940, at the home of her son in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Ogden, 303 Third street, Fairmont, were held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the First Methodist Church, Shinnston, with the Rev. Denver C. Pickens, pastor of the First Methodist Church,

Fairmont, officiating, assisted by Rev. Musgrave, pastor of the Shinnston church. A short service was held at the home at 1:30 o'clock before the funeral party left for this city. Interment took place at Masonic cemetery. There were many beautiful flowers. The pallbearers were Wayne Hawker, Marlin Hawker, Leland Ogden, Guy Hawker, Argyl Hess and Wayman Robinson."

The Fairmont Times of Monday gives the following sketch of her life:

"Mrs. Hawker, who was the widow of Thomas Hawker of Shinnston, had been residing in the Ogden home the last nine years and was a beloved member of the household. Her husband, who was a prominent business man of his community and president of the Farmers Bank of Shinnston, died about ten years ago.

Mrs. Hawker won the title of the "ideal mother" a year or more ago in connection with a Mother's Day feature when several state papers carried her picture with a story which told of her outstanding motherly qualities. Her picture denotes a noble face and countenance with true motherly instincts.

The deceased was the mother of five children, two of whom are living, Mrs. Stella Nutter, of Carleton street, and Mrs. Lelia Ogden, with whom she resided. Three sons are deceased, Homer, Leslie and Dallie Hawker. Leslie Hawker, who was a hardware merchant in Shinnston many years, was killed in an automobile accident several years ago. Homer Hawker also was a business man of Shinnston, and Dallas Hawker resided in Colorado several years before he passed away.

The grandchildren are Leland Ogden, Julia and Ardis Nutter, of Fairmont; Mrs. Avis Bittinger, of Oakland, Md.; Josephine, Wayne and Marlin Hawker of Shinnston; Max Hawker, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Enid Shumaker, Mrs. Virginia Brown, Jane and Thomas Hawker, of Colorado Springs, Colo. There are several great grandchildren.

Mrs. Hawker was a daughter of Robert Mason and Rebecca Robinson Mason. She was born in Harrison county, then Virginia, December 20, 1849. Her marriage to Mr. Hawker took place September 27, 1874. They lived for many years in Shinnston and were quite active in church, civic and community affairs.

Mrs. Hawker had a keen mind and good eyesight up until the end, and she read the daily newspapers and periodicals regularly, keeping in touch with all topics of the day. She delighted in conversing with her family and friends, and although she had been confined to her room the great part of the last year or more because of physical ailment, her interest never waned in her home surroundings or in local, state or national affairs.

On her 90th birthday anniversary last December a delightful party was held in the Ogden home in her honor, and about 30 or more of the families of her early associates and companions from the Bingamon community spent the evening with her. Several members of a choir of which she was a former member came to the party and sang several favorite numbers. Mrs. Hawker derived great enjoyment from this party.

The deceased had many lovable traits of character, and she was the object of much attention and devotion in her declining years by her children and their families, as well as many friends and relatives. She was a devout member of the Methodist church in Shinnston.

The deceased leaves a sister, Mrs. E. M. Hess, of Peora, Harrison county."