MARS HILL – Grace A. Hawksley, 89, died April 6, 2012, at Aroostook Health Center, Mars Hill. She was born Jan. 1, 1923, in Stockholm, daughter of Ernest and Lena (Foster) Garrison.
After graduating high school, Grace bought a horse and rode nearly every day. She announced horse shows in New Brunswick. Grace took flying lessons in Caribou, soloed and received her student pilot’s license. She was the first bookkeeper at the Mars Hill hospital. She later drove to Presque Isle everyday, and became an X-ray technician, then later on traveled to Caribou and became a lab technician. Grace was on duty 24 hours a day. Many a night during snowstorms, she waded to the hospital, found an empty bed, stayed the night, and then went to work the next morning. Grace loved the 45 years she spent, at her camp at East Grand Lake. The two-week visit there every summer was filled with wonderful times spent with family and friends, and especially the wonderful friends they made in Canada, friendships that exist to this day. Grace will be fondly remembered by her close friend of 60 years, Laurine York, whose cottage was next to theirs. They spent many happy hours watching each others children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren grow to adulthood and enjoy those special moments on the lake.
She leaves her husband of 65 years, John Hawksley of Mars Hill; son, Jeff Hawksley and his wife, Karen, of Rangeley; grandchildren, Pat and Chrissie; brother-in-law, Dick Hawksley and his wife, Sandra, their children, Ted and Scottie Hawksley, and their children, Nate and Seth; nephew Dr. Bert Drake and his children, Michelle and Peter; niece, Elenore and her children, Christopher and Lisa; nephew, Scottie Hawksley and his wife, Cindy, and their children, Chelsey and Allison. Grace was predeceased by her sisters, Elizabeth, Tina and Phyllis; and brother, Gary Garrison and his wife, Ruby.
Arrangements for a celebration of Grace’s life will be announced at a later date. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to The Central Aroostook Humane Society, 24 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan Funeral Home, Mars Hill. Online condolences may be made at
www.duncan-graves.com.