Marian Joan Hawes

On February 19, 2021, Marian Marshall Hawes passed away peacefully in her home in Athens,
GA, at the age of 90 years. She will be lovingly remembered by her sons Mark (Clare) and Eric
(Catherine); step-son Rick (Karen), step-daughter Christy (Tom); ten grandchildren, and nine
great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Colonel Richard E. Hawes, USMC (retired), step-daughter
Barbie Hawes Ray, and siblings Millie, Jean, Walter, Irene, and Bobby.

Marian was born and raised in Canonsburg, PA.  Upon becoming a Registered Nurse in 1950, Marian joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. While on duty at St. Albans Hospital in New York City, she met her future husband, then 2nd Lt. Richard E. Hawes. They were married in Pensacola, Florida, in 1953.  Marian was forced to leave the Navy in 1954 when she became pregnant with her first child, but she didn’t give up nursing. She continued to work intermittently as an RN at hospitals and physicians practices over the next twelve years.

However, Marian had two more important roles: raising their sons and supporting her naval
aviator husband as she followed wherever his career path took him. As the wife of a senior
officer, she assumed those duties as well as supporting the many young Marine Corps pilots
and their wives, who were far away from home and often separated from husbands frequently put in harm's way during the Vietnam War.

Following her husband’s retirement from the Marine Corps, they returned to her husband’s
hometown of Thomson, GA, in 1982. She returned to nursing, working at the McDuffie County
Hospital before becoming the Supervisor of Nursing at the Georgia Correctional Facility in
Augusta, GA. She retired from nursing when the couple relocated to Athens in 1987.
At her request, she was cremated and her ashes will be scattered at sea by the U.S. Navy as
were her husband’s.

In lieu of flowers, the Family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, the Shriners Hospital for Children or the US Humane Society.

Lord & Stephens, East, Athens, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com