Service to community runs in her veins
Megan Batterman
Staff writer
10-6-2016
SPRING CITY—Dedication to family, nature and community service have been a reoccurring theme throughout a 77-year old Spring City woman’s entire life.
Service to community runs deep in the veins of Jane Hawkes (born Jane Hunt) of Spring City. From teaching prenatal classes and volunteering in the La Leche League, to leading Boy Scouts on many discovery trips, Hawkes has countless hours of volunteer work under her belt.
Born in 1939 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Hawkes spent her formative years traipsing around the Michigan woods with her father.
“One year, my father came home with two baby hawks, so we raised them for a while,” Hawkes recalled.
Her love for animals and nature spurred her interest in zoology and biology, eventually leading her to seek degrees in those areas from Michigan State University.
Hawkes worked as a biological aid with the U.S. Department of Agriculture before moving to Idaho to teach zoology, botany and field biology at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.
Six children later, Hawkes found herself suddenly single. To make ends meet, she sold loaves of bread to her neighbors, often making 80 loaves per week.
Her dedication to her children and her community-minded spirit continued to shine, as she volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, eventually earning the highest award the Scouts have to offer, the Silver Beaver. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service.
In 2003, she met and married Blaine Hawkes. Together, the two raised Siberian Huskies and led dog sled teams. Blaine passed away in 2007 and she moved to California to be near her daughter Holly.
In 2015, Hawkes moved to Spring City, where she spends her time dedicated to community-minded pursuits. She is captain of the neighborhood watch, and often holds “jam” sessions in her home for local musicians.
In between all her volunteer pursuits, Hawkes likes to garden and read and keeping active.
She can often be found walking the streets of Spring City, gathering garbage and recyclables she finds along the way. Her passion for nature and community rarely falters, even with all she does.
