Nancy Wells Hawkins

Nancy Wells Hawkins, 87, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, surrounded by family at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. A Celebration of Nancy’s life is planned for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa.

Born on August 27, 1937, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Raymond A. and Ruth Wells. The family moved to Tulsa, where she and her brother, Joe, graduated from Central High School. As a young woman she loved animals, particularly horses, and became quite the equestrian. She pursued commercial art at the University of Tulsa, where she met the love of her life, Bryan C. Hawkins. They were married in 1958. In 1973, they moved to Cedar Rapids and raised their family.

Nancy’s true passion was volunteerism. She served on the Junior Board of the Tulsa Children’s Home, the Junior Leagues of both Tulsa and Cedar Rapids, the PTAs of Erskine and McKinley Schools, and Parents of the Performing Arts at Washington High School, holding leadership positions in all. Nancy received the Governor’s School Volunteer Recognition Award in 1986. Serving and presiding over the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary for several years, Nancy was subsequently asked to join Mercy’s Board of Trustees, where she served from 1977 to 1983. She was particularly fond of the time spent with her P.E.O. sisters in later years.

With all her volunteer activities, Nancy still found time for art. She was illustrator on many community projects over the years and there was never a holiday or party that did not have her creative touch! She enjoyed painting, both oil and watercolor, participating with friends in many art shows and exhibitions.

Above all, she was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Nancy is survived by her three children, Darcy (Jeffrey Evans) Caraway of Hiawatha, Bradley Hawkins of Austin, Texas, and Lindsey (Simon) Andrew of Iowa City, Iowa; and three grandchildren, Madison Bemus, Alyssa Bemus, and Solomon Andrew.

She was preceded in death by husband, Bryan and a brother, Joseph Wells.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mainsprings – The Janada L. Batchelor Foundation for Children. https://mainsprings.org/