Noble Lee Hawkins
Noble Lee Hawkins, age 93, of Bethel, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025 at the home of son, Dale and Sonja Hawkins in Bethel. Noble was born near Bethel, on September 2nd, 1931, to Dewey Allen and Viola Naomi (Holderieath) Hawkins. He was born the oldest of four children.
Noble began following Christ at 13 years of age. He was a 1949 graduate of Bethel High School and after farming for three years, he volunteered to serve his country in the Air Force from 1952 until 1956 when he returned to farm with his dad. He was stationed in North Carolina and Texas and even served one year in Alaska on a mountaintop at a remote radar site as a cook. Noble was united in marriage to Emmalynn Katherine Schofield on August 10th, 1958 in Hallsville. She preceded him in death on August 25, 2024 just after celebrating 66 years of marriage. He helped his sons Tandy and Dale get started in farming and although he officially retired in 1999, he continued to provide help on the farm by driving trucks, moving grain, and assisting his sons in any way needed until his wife’s memory decline required his full-time care and attention.
Noble was a faithful member of Bethel Christian Church and served as a Deacon and Elder for many years, setting an example as a servant leader. He was often found serving the church family and calling on members of the community, washing dishes for the Ladies’ Spring Banquets and washing off tables after carry-in dinners. Noble also served as an Adult Sunday School Class teacher for many years and would faithfully study his Sunday School lesson even when he wasn’t the one teaching. Noble was a true Christ – follower and “prayer warrior”. Early every morning he spent time reading his Bible and made a habit of praying through the extensive church prayer list and his personal prayer list. Even when he and Emmalynn were unable to attend the worship services at Bethel, he would ask for any new prayer needs to bring before his Lord in prayer. As a team with his wife, they made numerous phone calls to invite people to Revival meetings, church services and Sunday School using their station wagon/van to take people to area church functions.
Noble was committed to the Lord Jesus and to his family. He and Emmalynn pointed their family and friends to Jesus making sure their boys were able to attend church camp and later the Christian Campus House while at the University of Missouri – Columbia. As they were raising their five boys on the farm, at home or away, Noble set a Godly example to his family for which they are forever grateful. Noble truly lived up to his name. Even in his later years of enduring myelofibrosis/leukemia illness, he did not complain, but consistently thanked the nurses, aids, doctors and family for any small task or assistance they gave him. He leaves this world having touched many lives and souls for the Kingdom of Christ.
He is survived by five sons, Tandy (Sharla) of Bethel, Dale (Sonja) of Bethel, Kerry of Kirksville, Kelvin (Judy) of King City, and Darren of Kansas City; eight grandchildren, Clayton Hawkins, Daysi McIntire (Zachary), Mindi Hawkins, Sarah Kawada (Christopher), Bryan Hawkins, Aaron Hawkins, Alexander Hoch, and Claire Hawkins; four great grandchildren, Jack and Kolohe Kawada, Emma and Katie McIntire; one sister Mary Jo Perrigo (Dean) of Mason, Ohio; one sister-in-law Donna Hawkins of Albuquerque, N.M., and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Margarete Hawkins, and one brother John Hawkins and niece, Lori Christine Hawkins. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. His faith is now sight! “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home, Shelbina, MO. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 11 am at Bethel Christian Church with visitation at 10am, followed with the burial in Shiloh Cemetery near Bethel. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Christian Campus House (Columbia), Bethel Christian Church, or Shiloh Cemetery.
