MYRL HAWKS

CARTHAGE-Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage, for Myrl Virginia Hawks, 95, who died Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at Oak Pointe Assisted Living Community, after a long illness. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, at the Greenfield Cemetery in Greenfield.

Arrangements are under the direction of Knell Mortuary.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, at the mortuary.

Donations may be made to Carthage Can Do Senior Center, in care of Knell Mortuary, 308 W. Chestnut, Carthage, MO 64836. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com.

Survivors include three children, Rachel Ann Becker, Dale Clifton Hawks and wife Tammy and Peggy Jo Blackford and husband Darrell; six grandchildren, Howard Becker and wife Gina, Camron Watson and husband Mike, Amanda Lansford and husband Ben, Daniel Blackford and wife Sonja, Lauren Schleicher and husband Brent and Jonathan Hawks and wife Meredith and 13 great-grandchildren, Bailey Becker, Shane Becker, Katherine Watson, Keegan Watson, Zach Lansford, Cooper Lansford, Hunter McPherson, Wyatt Blackford, Isabelle Schleicher, Abigail Schleicher, Jack Schleicher, Katelyn Gotcher and Kendall Gotcher.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas, on Sept. 9, 2004; her brothers and sisters, Francis Mitchell and husband Charles, Kenneth Cantrell and wife Ruby, Emil Cantrell and wife Louise, Nadine Gordon and husband Donald, Betty Decker and husband Fred and Billy Cantrell; a son-in-law, George Becker; a granddaughter, Kelly Blackford Forst and a great-grandson, Adam Lee Forst.

Mrs. Hawks was born Jan. 9, 1921, on a farm near Arcola, to Otis Clifford and Mary Griffith (Twaddle) Cantrell. She was one of seven children.

She grew up on the farm near Arcola and graduated from Arcola High School. On Dec. 23, 1939, she married Thomas Edwin Hawks. The couple then moved to a farm north of Lockwood, where they attended Mt. Nebo Baptist Church of Lockwood. Mrs. Hawks was known for her wonderful cooking skills and her homemade noodles and chocolate cake recipes continue to be passed down through the generations. She shared her skill in the kitchen by working in the school lunch room at the Lockwood schools for several years, where her children attended.

She and her husband retired from farm life in 1971 and moved to Greenfield. For several years they both worked at O'Sullivan Industries in Lamar. In 2000, they moved to Carthage and she became involved in the Carthage Can Do Senior Center, where she enjoyed the activities and socializing with her friends. She attended the Carthage First United Methodist Church.