Edward Gale Hawkinson, 78

Ed, 78, returned to Heavenly Father Tuesday, May 11, 2020,

He was born in Minnesota but Montana has been home since the tender age of 19.

Ed was born to Fred and Berna (Adams) Hawkinson, and was raised with eight siblings, Garry, Bill (Willard), Karen, Vivian, Sandi, Norma, Brian and Vicki.

Ed and his bride, Sharon Tallon, were married in August 1961, in Eureka, Montana, and later sealed for time and eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they have four children, Kari Lynn (Mike), Karla Kay (Steve), Gary Edward (Lisa), and Jeffrey Douglas (Kim). Ed has 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Ed didn’t know the meaning of sitting idle and taking things easy. He could make sawdust fly in the forest cutting logs, and enjoyed making birdhouses with his “Huny” for the last 28 years. He loved working in his yard, shop and hunting, his newest nickname being Eddy2Deer, last hunt getting two deer with one shot! The great-grands loved this! Ed never met a stranger, and had an incredible gift of gab.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, loving stepfather Harold “Blackie” Newman, loving sister Karen, brother Garry, and Michael Lee Smith, son-in-law.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

Go rest easy “Papa” until we meet again.