Wendy Wray Hawkins

Wendy Wray Hawkins August 25, 1955 - Dec 26, 2019 Wendy was born to Bill and Joanne Meeker in Medford,OR the 3rd child of four. Her siblings were Bobbi Jo, Dan, and Julie. Wendy attended Wilson Elementary School reaching the high rank of student body president. At North Medford High School she excelled and developed a life long interest in art, graduating June 1973. Wendy continued her education at Southern Oregon College in Ashland Oregon. At that time she experience a real low in her life wondering what life was all about and called out to God, if He was there. And He was, which was to inform the rest of her life. She became involved with First Baptist Church in Medford with the college group and in bible studies learning about her new faith. On February 24, 1979 she married Dennis Ryan. On December 18th of the same year she was widowed and unbeknownst to her pregnant. This was a very hard time, but she stayed the course and Elyssa’s birth September 10th, 1980 became a source of great joy. Wendy returned to school and earned a degree in Elementary Education with an early childhood endorsement, graduating June 1984. She got a job teaching kindergarten half time and loved her work and Elyssa. On August 17, 1985 Wendy married Michael Hawkins and remained so till her death. She continued to teach half time for 25 years taking a few months off for the birth of her son Daniel on March 12th, 1987 and for a hip replacement a few years later. Wendy loved to read and one of her goals as an educator was to pass on the love of reading to her students. She also loved art, beauty, home decorating and taking care of our planet. After her retirement she ran a small pre-school out of our house for three years, continuing to build into children's lives. In 2016 she and her husband moved to the Portland area to be near their kids and granddaughter. Wendy struggled with chronic pain for years, but now she is free of pain and with Jesus. She is survived by her husband, Mike, her children Elyssa and Daniel, her grandchild, Amelia, and her sister and brother, Bobbi Jo and Dan.