A celebration of life service honoring Leslie L Hawkins will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024 at First Baptist East in Lawton, Ok with Rev. Doug Passmore, Pastor officiating.

Burial will follow at the Carnegie Cemetery, Carnegie, Oklahoma under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. The service may also be viewed by following the livestream link at the First Baptist East Lawton Facebook page.

Leslie L Hawkins went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Lawton, Oklahoma at the age of 71. She was born February 20, 1953 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Laurence and Rachel (Oster) Bolen.

Leslie grew up in Carnegie and was a 1971 graduate of Carnegie High School. Following graduation, she attended the University of Oklahoma where she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Education.  She subsequently earned her Master's in Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Leslie married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Kenneth Royce Hawkins on May 31, 1974 in Carnegie.

Leslie moved to Lawton in the mid 1970's, where she obtained her first teaching position as a special education teacher at Indiahoma Public Schools. She continued her career as an educator for Lawton Public Schools as an elementary classroom teacher and elementary school counselor until she retired in 2005. Leslie touched the lives of a countless number of children. These students and families impacted her life as much as she did theirs. Leslie viewed her students as an extension of her own family, many times providing them with life's necessities to ensure their needs were met, regardless of the day or time. Leslie's teaching career afforded her many friendships that provided her the "sisters" she always longed for. These lifelong friendships continued as an active part of her life up until her passing.

Leslie's most memorable pastimes were spending time with her four grandsons, attending their athletic events, volunteering at their schools and simply playing board games and eating junk food at "Mimi's Famous Sleepovers." Everyone who knew Leslie knows how much she enjoyed lying in the sun while reading a book with her beloved dog. After retirement, Leslie spent her time planning and organizing vacations for her and Ken to travel the world with their friends, and booking summer vacations to various islands to ensure her grandsons saw the very best beaches the world has to offer.

Above all else, Leslie was a Christian and a true believer in Jesus Christ. She was raised in the First Christian Church of Carnegie and later became an active member of First Baptist East.  Leslie's love for Christ was exemplified in her ability to display compassion for the many lives she encountered as an educator. She never hesitated to share her love for Jesus with others.

She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Kena and Ryan Herring of Lawton and Keri and Justin Mace of Carnegie; six grandchildren, Hudson Herring, Garrett Herring, Ken Whittington, Bradley Whittington, Jetta Mace, McKena Palmer, husband Dace and their son Rookie; her sister-in-law Brenda Bolen of Edmond; her sister-in-law Carolyn Youngstedt of Lawton; her brother-in-law Phillip Hawkins and wife Carla of Wichita Falls, Texas; her sister-in-law Cyndi Randolph and husband Bob of Piedmont, Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leslie was proceeded in death by her husband Kenneth R Hawkins; her parents Laurence and Rachel Bolen; her two brothers Laurence (Larry) Bolen and Christopher Bolen.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Complete Hospice, for their exceptional care and support, specifically Shelbie, Mackenzie, Logan, Kenya and Abby as well as the many people who cared for Leslie, in her home, over the last 5 years as she battled Alzheimer's: Janie Noble, Bertha Ortiz, Leah Baltierra, Michelle Passmore, Robin Dietrich, and Melodee Thurman.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton Public School Foundation.