George Enoch Hawes, 88
George “was called by the angels in heaven to complete his journey” on May 4, 2017, passing peacefully at home due to natural causes.
He was born July 2, 1928, in his grandparents’ home in Hopewell, New York, to George and Leota Hawes, the first of their three children, including Barbara and Robert.
George graduated from Red Jacket High School in Manchester, New York, and then joined the Merchant Marines in the Mediterranean, and later enlisted in the Navy and served onboard submarines during World War II. He received an honorable discharge in 1950.
He met and married Pauline Barnes while stationed in San Diego. They were blessed with six children, George, James, William, Donald, Barbara and Deborah, whom he cherished to the end of his days.
George succeeded as a builder and developer and opened an insurance agency in Gridley, California, where he raised his family.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, coaching sports, boating and many other outdoor activities, instilling his love for God’s creation to all his children.
It was in Gridley where he was touched by the Holy Spirit of God and became, as he would often remark, “born again and spirit filled.” This launched him into a quest of wanting to share the “Good News” to everyone who desired to hear the message and he led countless people to the Lord.
In 1994, he met and married Lynn Krause, who had two adult children, daughter Kara and a son William, whom he loved and nurtured as his own.
George and Lynn moved to Montana two weeks after marriage and were forever enchanted by the beauty, grandeur and tranquility they found here. They celebrated their 23rd anniversary just four days prior to his death.
Leading people to the Lord was his greatest passion and gave him delight and joy. He was steadfast in this mission to the very end, introducing a granddaughter, Amber, and a great-granddaughter, Hailey, to Jesus with a laying on of hands just five days prior to his death, the two of them being his last precious ones to receive “the gift.”
This is the true legacy, memorial and testimony George would want to be remembered for — the joy and happiness of sharing the gospel and witnessing changes in the lives of those he touched.
George is survived by all eight children, wife Lynn, brother Robert, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom loved the Lord, his heart’s desire.
His ashes will be given to the family to be scattered at multiple locations, times and occasions of their choosing, as this was his wish and request to us all. So no formal or public services are planned.
The first scattering and celebration of George’s amazing life was on May 9 at one of his favorite spots along the Flathead River, where he enjoyed the peace, serenity and God’s beautiful creation while reading his Bible, and the rest is to be continued…