Mrs. Leota Hawkins' Obituary
On January 19th, 2018 Leota Hawkins was called to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Leota was born November 14th, 1943 in Robbinsville North Carolina to Herthel and Ruth Daugherty. Leota is preceded in death by her husband Edward Hawkins, mother Ruth Daugherty, father Herthel Daugherty and sister in law Patsy Daugherty. Leota leaves behind son’s Gregory McCool, his wife Tamalla and grandson Christian, son Robert McCool, his wife Janica and granddaughter Samantha, sister Jeanine and husband David (Smitty) Smith, brother Earl Daugherty, brother Ronnie and wife Micky Daugherty and numerous nieces and nephews and special friends.
Leota was raised modestly in the Smokey Mountains very close to a Cherokee Indian reservation. After Leota’s father became ill at approximate age 17, the family moved to Galena Park, Texas. Leota adapted well to her new Texas home as she was a vibrant and strikingly beautiful woman who never met a stranger.
It wasn’t long before she married Glen McCool, and began her own family. She had two sons Greg and Robert. After six years, the marriage ended, and Leota settled close to her mother Ruth, sister Jeanine and brothers Earl and Ronnie. Although deeply hurt, Leota’s attitude and tenacious spirit wouldn’t allow her to dwell on the past. She said “I have two young sons who depend on me, so I have to be strong”. Leota was a dedicated mother. She spent all of her non working time raising her sons with a commitment to imparting strong morals and christian principles.
In 1970, Leota met the love of her life, or as she would say “my soulmate” Edward (Poppy) Hawkins, and that’s when her fun filled journey began. She said “when I saw his blue eyes dancing, I knew something exciting was about to happen”! Leota admittedly kept her makeup fresh with her purse and bags packed. She was always ready to experience whatever spontaneous trip she and Ed would take. Most trips included impromptu visits to the local diner, meeting family or friends and even cross country adventures.
After years in Galena Park, Ed bought Leota her first new home nearby in North Shore. Leota loved her home and relished in hosting numerous family and friend events and parties. Ed loved and raised the boys as his own. Ed and Leota loved to visit family and actively participating in their grandchildren Samantha and Christian’s lives. As time flew by, with a no regrets attitude, Leota and Ed were able to live out great family memories. Most of which were holidays, birthdays, vacations and countless simple random gatherings. Ed and Leota also spent time with his brother Alfred and childhood friends Charles and Becky Simmons. They would laugh when talking about the about the good old days, and were even able to make many new memories later in life.
Ed and Leota also shared in the passion of helping others. This was demonstrated though countless examples of kind acts in offering both their time and financial support to many in need. They found purpose through giving and considered helping others to be fun and fulfilling, not even realizing how inspiring as role models they were to family and friends.
Leota also liked to shop and dress nicely. She was mindful of her appearance and always wore cute and fashionable outfits, and of course with stylish shoes to match. Ed would take Leota shopping while he sat on the bench “people watching”. She would spend hours looking, picking through items and even sorting and folding clothes that were out of place. Afterwards, Ed would take Leota to Luby’s cafeteria where they would eat lunch and drink coffee. Leota jokingly claimed that her famous homemade spaghetti and biscuits and gravy were what landed Ed. Although we are sure it didn’t hurt, everyone knew that Ed had fallen deeply in love. This bond of love was demonstrated by how Ed chose to spend his time. After retiring from the Port of Houston, Ed and Leota were virtually inseparable for the next twenty years.
After the passing of her beloved husband Ed, Leota settled in Conroe next to her son Robert, his wife Janica, daughter Samantha and Janica’s mother Janice and husband Greg Dyson. Janice became a close friend of Leota’s as well as a bible study and Sunday school partner. And it didn’t take Leota long to make friends and find a local church in Willis First Baptist.
Leota even surprised us all as her grief group experience quickly transitioned from receiving help to giving help. Leota loved God, and yes rekindled her passion and purpose for helping others. For recovery, she also began to pour herself into family activities emphasizing her grandchildren, nieces and nephews as demonstrated by the myriad of pictures displayed in her home and in her photo albums. Leota bonded with her granddaughter Samantha and grandson Christian. Samantha and Leota would cook together and Leota voluntarily picked Samantha up from school and shared conversation of the day’s events. Leota also taught Christian to cook. Of course, we are sure Christian did more of the eating, and took full advantage of being spoiled by his mamaw. Leota valued the time spent next door to her youngest son Robert who would randomly stop in for coffee. She said “it always makes me so happy to see Robert walking up my driveway”.
Leota also loved visiting her sister Jeanine and husband Smitty, Jeanine’s children and significant others including John and Kelly, Matthew and Summer. Leota’s face would light up when talking about and showing pictures of Jeanine’s grandchildren Halle, Eleanor and Elijah. One of Leota’s hobbies was sewing. She was creative and enjoyed sewing projects in making clothes for the kids. In particular, Leota thoroughly enjoyed sewing with her sister Jeanine and Jeanine’s daughter in law Summer Smith. Leota also enjoyed long conversations with her brother Earl, and the occasional visits to see Earl, his son Lee and wife Michelle.
In the spirit of giving, Leota volunteered with H2U at the hospital and made many friends there as well. Leota was always excited about traveling, meeting new people and experiencing new things. She took a number of scheduled bus trips with her H2U friends to casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi. She also cherished vacations with her sister Jeanine and Smitty to Florida to visit Leota’s favorite Aunt Edna. Leota developed life long friendships while in Conroe. She studied scripture, was uplifting, listened attentively and even drove friends to doctor visits. In six short years, it is amazing how many lives Leota touched during the last chapter of her life.
In summarizing Leota’s life, she was visionary in that she thought about the future, but lived life in the present. She was always uplifting, inspiring and complimentary to others. On the occasion when she gave constructive criticism, it was sensitively delivered and well deserved and you knew it. Leota’s life brings to mind Mother Teresa quotes “Peace begins with a smile” and “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier”
Leota was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was “one of a kind with a bigger than life presence”. We will selfishly miss her conversations, her energy, her smile, her voice, her positivity, her genuine love and goodness. Ironically, Leota’s greatest attribute was her heart, a heart that failed her in the end. A loving heart never to be replaced. A heart that incessantly cared and gave selflessly to those blessed to know her. All we can do is thank the Lord for allowing us to experience Leota’s love as an angel on earth, apply lessons learned from her, and pray that God protects her and uses her as a special angel to fulfill His will.
What’s your fondest memory of Leota?
What’s a lesson you learned from Leota?
Share a story where Leota's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Leota you’ll never forget.
How did Leota make you smile?
