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Bruce Campbell Adamson 3511, Santa Cruz,
CA, 95063 EMAIL is bca@got.net
Elizabeth Bixby
"Bo" Hawkins
ELIZABETH "BO" BIXBY HAWKINS was born October 8, 1917
and died March 31, 2009. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri
to Harold McMillan Bixby and Elizabeth Case Bixby. She attended
the Community School, John Burroughs in St. Louis, and Miss Porter's
in Farmington CT. She was preceded in death by her first husband,
William Dods Hawkins to whom she was married for 62 years. Her
father, as president of the Bank of St. Louis, was principal
backer of Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic,
and, for his pivotal role, was given the honor of naming the
plane "The Spirit of St. Louis" after the city. When
the depression hit St. Louis, wiping out Mr. Bixby, Lindbergh
returned the favor and influenced Mr. Bixby to join Pan American
Airlines. Mr. Bixby subsequently was sent to China in 1930 to
arrange landing rights for the China Clippers with China National
Aviation Corporation, and when he discovered how protracted dealing
with the Chinese would be, moved his family there. The family
spent 8 years in China, and the Philippine Islands, with Bo and
her older sister Frances enjoying the opportunity to travel extensively
throughout Asia. This formed her for a life-long pleasure in
travel. Bo's studies, interrupted at Miss Porter's, continued
at the Hua Ren Schwa Keio School in Beijing. The family lived
variously in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, and Manila.
In 1935, in Shanghai, she met Bill Hawkins, who was bicycling
from Beijing to Canton after having graduated from Princeton
in 1934. When the family was allowed by invading Japanese to
leave Shanghai under a two hour truce in August of 1937, she
moved to Baguio, and, in March of 1938, back to St. Louis. She
and her sister Frances taught ballroom dancing in St. Louis after
their return. Spending summers at the Bixby family home in Lake
George, New York, she renewed her acquaintance with Bill Hawkins.
They were married on April 6, 1940. In September of 1951, they
moved to Houston. They had five children, nine grandchildren
and eight great-grandchildren. Elizabeth "Lee" Harrison
and husband Henry; Sidney Fay and husband Ab; Frances Pengra,
and husband Ed Allday; Anne Hawkins; and George Hawkins and wife
Hester. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Sam Harrison,
wife Nicole and daughters Sophie and Hannah; Jay Harrison, wife
Karen and daughter Aurelia and Henry; Elizabeth "Libby"
Low, husband Beau and sons Cannon and Haden; Eloise Novotny,
husband Andrew and daughters Amelia and Lillian; Anabel Fay;
Dods Pengra and wife Kimberly; Oliver, Caleb and Nellen Hawkins.
In her 90th year, she found happiness in a second marriage, to
David Hannah, with whom she spent many an hour singing and simply
holding hands. He brought her much pleasure in her later years,
keeping her company and helping her to lead an active life. Bo
Hawkins served on the boards of Sheltering Arms, the Garden Club
of Houston (as president in 1975), the Houston Arboretum &
Nature Center, and the Asia Society. She volunteered tirelessly
for the Junior League, United Way, Red Cross of America, and,
for 20 years, with the Girl Scouts of America. In her later years
she taught English as a second language and took up bridge. She
was a tireless knitter and seamstress. She leaves behind a legacy
of laughter, service, lasting friendship, and a cheerful outlook.
Bo Hawkins never met a stranger, and welcomed everyone she met
into her life, young and old. She loved dancing, golf at the
Club, laughter and her extended, adoring family. One of her greatest
delights, and a lasting memory for all who knew her, was the
time she spent at the piano, playing her favorite songs by ear,
including her signature tune "Egyptian Ella," which
never failed to bring frenzied dancing by little ones. She played
all the music we loved, and instilled a love of singing and harmonizing
in all her family. She will be missed by the many people she
included in her life. A memorial service will be held at St.
Martin's Church on Thursday, April 2 at 2:00, with a family internment
this summer in Bolton Landing, NY. In lieu of sending flowers,
Bo would ask that those who wish to remember her would send donations
to the Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway, Houston Texas 77024.
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If you have any questions
please email me at bca@got.net
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