Grace A. Hawksley

HAWKSLEY, Grace A., 89, MARS HILL, April 6, 2012. Arrangements for a celebration of Grace’s life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Mars Hill.

    MARS HILL – Grace A. Hawksley, 89, died April 6, 2012, at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill. She was born January 1, 1923, in Stockholm, Maine, the daughter of Ernest and Lena (Foster) Garrison.

    After graduating high school, Grace bought a horse and rode nearly every day. She announced horse shows in New Brunswick, Canada. Grace took flying lessons in Caribou, soloed and received her student pilot’s license. She was the first bookkeeper at the Mars Hill Hospital. She later drove to Presque Isle every day, and became an X Ray technician, then later on traveled to Caribou and became a lab technician. Grace was on duty 24 hours a day. Many a night during snow storms, she waded to the hospital, found an empty bed, stayed the night, then went to work the next morning.

    Grace loved the 45 years she spent at her camp at East Grand Lake. The two week visit there every summer was filled with wonderful times spent with family and friends, and especially the wonderful friends they made in Canada, friendships that exist to this day.

    Grace will be fondly remembered by her close friend of 60 years, Laurine York, whose cottage was next to theirs. They spent many happy hours watching each others’ children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren grow to adulthood and enjoy those special moments on the lake.

    She leaves her husband of 65 years, John Hawksley of Mars Hill; a son, Jeff Hawksley and his wife, Karen of Rangely, and grandchildren, Pat and Chrissie; a brother-in-law Dick Hawksley, his wife, Sandra, their children, Ted and Scottie Hawksley, and their children, Nate and Seth; a  nephew, Dr. Bert Drake and his children, Michelle and Peter; a neice, Elenore and her children, Christopher and Lisa; a nephew, Scottie Hawksley, his wife, Cindy, and their children, Chelsey and Allison.

    Grace was predeceased by her sisters, Elizabeth, Tina and Phyllis; and a brother, Gary Garrison and his wife, Ruby.

    Arrangements for a celebration of Grace’s life will be announced at a later date. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to The Central Aroostook Humane Society, 24 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan Funeral Home in Mars Hill. Online condolences may be made at www.duncan-graves.com