Mr. Harry James Hawken

Obituary

Harry James Hawken was born in Cobalt Ont. on March 29^th, 1927, and passed away in Rockland, Ont. on December 17^th, 2023 in his 97^th year.

Harry was the youngest of eight children of Herbert and Ada Hawken (nee Snuggs), surviving siblings Bill, Emma, Hazel, Art, Tom, Dolly and Ruth. He grew up in Cobalt, with his eldest sister Emma raising him due to his mother’s serious illness. When he turned 18 in March 1945, he enlisted, undergoing military training for the Pacific; he was awarded the War Medal 1939-45, but the war ended prior to his deployment. A 1946 graduate of the Haileybury School of Mining, he married the late Margaret Barker in 1947 (deceased 2007), with whom he had four children. He worked in Timmins area mines until 1954, when he left Pamour Mine with his young family for New Liskeard, where he began a career with the Ontario Department of Highways, retiring in 1986 as District Engineering Office Supervisor. He later married Dorothy Simpson (nee Stewart), mother of seven children, who predeceased him in 2016.

Throughout his life he enjoyed various interests and hobbies, notably taking and processing photographs, geology/rock collecting and reading. He also undertook a stint in the militia in the 1950s as a signaler with the Algonquin Regiment (during its period as an armoured regiment).

He is survived by: his children Bill Hawken (Jacquie), Betty Goodkey (Jerry), Shirley Swartz (Allan) and Jamie Hawken (Beth); many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and his stepchildren Stewart Simpson (Clara Lafontaine), Douglas Simpson (Cory Murray), Patricia Simpson (Ross Macdonald), Harvey Simpson, Andrew Simpson (Mary Ann Paulen), Wynn Anne Sibbald (Stephen) and Christine Willoughby (Robert).

Heartfelt thanks to the staff and residents of Rockland Manor for their superb care and friendship toward Harry and his family over the past seven years.

Those wishing to commemorate Harry’s life are encouraged to donate to a local pet shelter/humane society, perform an act of kindness for someone, or undertake any other beneficial action of their choice.

Celebration of Life arrangements will be communicated at a later date.