Joyce Ann Hawkins

(89 years old)

Joyce Ann Hawkins, passed away on August 24, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. Joyce was born on March 15, 1936 to her parents William Theodore "Ted" Walker and Emma Louise Schantz at Dexter, Missouri. She was the eldest of four children (George, Mack, and Paul Walker).

In 1941, the family moved to Bakersfield, California, where Joyce's father managed a small business. In 1951, the family moved to Springfield, Missouri, so "Ted" could start his own businesses and they could be closer to family. Joyce graduated in 1954 from Springfield Senior High (Central High School). In the fall of 1954, Joyce traveled back to California, where she lived with a friend and attended a local community college in Taft. In December of 1954, she returned to Springfield, Missouri, where she attended Southwest Missouri State University (Missouri State University) in the spring of 1955. That same semester, she became the first "Military Queen" at SMSU and began to date Billy Wayne Hawkins. Bill and Joyce married in August 1955.

Joyce's greatest passion was taking care of her family. Bill and Joyce had four children (Debra Webb, Michelle Fitzgerald, Chris Hawkins, and Kevin Hawkins). Along with her four children, Joyce had eight grandchildren (Justin Fitzgerald, Natalie Holt, Lindsay Fitzgerald, Klayton Hawkins, Sam Hawkins, Jake Hawkins, Kyndal Hawkins, and Aiden Piciullo. Joyce also had six great grandchildren (Jackson Fitzgerald, Hayden and Everly Holt, Theo and Felix Hawkins, and Sage Hurtado).

Joyce enjoyed traveling, playing card games with her friends, and participating in her art group. She can be described as a "people-person" who loved to laugh with her family and friends.

Funeral is Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Foundation for Springfield Public Schools (Bill and Joyce Hawkins Choral Scholarship), 1131 Boonville, Springfield, MO. 65802.