Helen V. Hawkes

SOUTH PARIS -— Helen V. Hawkes, 102, Passed away quietly at Market Square Health Care Center with her daughter, Leanne and their dear friend, Shirley Miller, by her side June 23, 2009.

She was born in Phillips on May 25, 1907, the daughter of Katherine Toothaker Ross and Lee Ross. After Helen's father passed away, she graduated from Phillips High School and her mother sold their home in Phillips and they moved to Portland. There Helen went to Grey's Business College and studied office procedures and accounting.

She met and married Arthur Stuart Hawkes in the early 1930s and they had one child, Leanne Jane Hawkes McKinney. During World War II, Helen worked at Fort Williams and later in life worked as an accountant and office manager at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.

After her retirement at age 75, she moved from Portland to Orono, then to South Paris to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Leanne and Jim McKinney Jr.

In her lifetime, she enjoyed going to live theater, playing bridge and traveling to Florida and the Islands with friends. At 90 years of age, she purchased a metallic seas green Oldsmobile that she prized and proudly drove until she was 96. She lived independently until she was 99, when she moved to Market Square Health Care Center. There, her many caregivers enjoyed the same sharp wit and keen sense of humor known to her family and friends. During her first year there, she managed to knit scarves for all those who tended her and became like family to her.

Survivors include her only child, Leanne McKinney of South Paris; beloved grandchildren, David Vincent and wife, Michelle, of Portland, Debra Clark and husband, Bill, of Herndon, Va., and Julie Stewart of Cape Elizabeth; great-grandchildren, Justin Vincent and wife, Gillian, of Biddeford, Amanda Vincent of Portland, Adam and Alex Clark of Herndon, Va., and Matthew and Casey Oakes of Cape Elizabeth.

The family wishes to thank Maryan McKinney for her thoughtful gifts and visits to Helen during her stay at market Square. The family also wishes to too gratefully thank the caregivers of Market Square —especially Kathy Preach, who treated her like family.

An informal memorial gathering will be held at Leanne's home at a time and date to be announced.

Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Market Square Health Care Center, Activity Fund, 12 Market Square, South Paris, ME 04281.