Kenneth M. Hawkins “Papa”, 93, of Sheridan, WY died at Sheridan Manor on March 14, 2011.

Ken was born May 9, 1917 in Burchard, Nebraska to Alva C. and Georgia (Mefford) Hawkins. He married Doris M. Holten in Harrisburg, Nebraska on April 21, 1940 and they were married 63 years. They farmed in Scottsbluff, Nebraska for a few years and then moved to California where Ken worked for Remington Arms as a machinist. They moved back to Nebraska and finally made their way to Sheridan, Wyoming in 1945 where they ranched on Lower Prairie Dog. This was home to Ken, Doris and their two children, Doree and Bud, for the next 12 years until Ken and Doris purchased the Spot Service in 1956. In 1982, Ken retired and he and Doris traveled all over the Western and Southern States, Canada and Mexico in their Apollo motor home.

Ken served on the Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners from January 1967 to December 1974 and was Chairman of the Board for two years. He was a member of the commission that purchased land for the expansion of the Sheridan County Airport. Later he served on the Fair Board for 10 years.

Ken was a fifty year member of the Big Horn Mountain Masonic Lodge #43 – Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite of Wyoming and Kalif Shrine, was a Jester and a Life Member of Sheridan Elks Lodge #520. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and photographer who loved to snow machine. He snow machined in the Big Horn Mountains and Yellowstone Park and fished all throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska and San Carlos, Mexico. One special trip was to Churchill in Manitoba, Canada to view and photograph Polar Bears on the shore of Hudson Bay. He even had his own dark room and worked with film and printed his own pictures. He took movies of his pack trips in the wilderness areas, fishing trips in the remote lakes of Yellowstone, and hunting trips in the Big Horn Mountains. However family gatherings were always his favorite thing, especially the food and Doris’s wonderful desserts.

Ken was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Doris; infant daughter, DeAnn; his parents; and his brother, Melvin Hawkins.

He is survived by his son, Kenneth P. Hawkins “Bud” of Boulder Creek, CA, and daughter Doree (Lary) Kobold of Big Horn, WY; two grandsons, Steve and Greg (Sharon) Kobold; four great grandchildren, Miles (Tannis), Tel, Paige and Madeline Kobold; one great-great-granddaughter Mylee Gene ; and two step great-great-grandsons Kash and Chase Darnell.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 18th, at Champion Ferries Funeral Home with Reverend Doug Goodwin officiating. Burial will be at the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. A reception at the Elks Lodge will follow.

Memorials in memory of Ken can be sent to the Kalif Shrine Children’s fund in care of Doug White, P. O. Box K, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801.

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