Cora Rae Hawkinson
1923-12-27 2019-03-12
Cory passed away March 12, 2019 of pneumonia at age 95.
Cory was born on December 27th, 1923 in Cook, MN to Cora (Howe) and Willis Beatty. Following her 1941 high school graduation, she attended two years of Virginia Jr. College and was employed by the Bridgeman Russell Headquarters in Virginia.
During WWII, Cory served in the WAVES, the women’s branch of the Navy, receiving training in Milledgeville at Georgia College of Women. After the war, Cory returned to Virginia to work for Oliver Mining. She met Edward “Buck” Hawkinson at a sledding party and they married in 1947. They were blessed with four children. She and Buck spent summers together at Lake 14 for 65 years. Always the gracious host, Cory entertained friends and family at the lake and at their home in Virginia. They had a wonderful retirement filled with friends, travel and family visits. In 2013, Cory and Buck moved to Trails of Orono to be closer to their children in Minneapolis. Buck passed away in 2016.
Cory was an active member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church and the wider Virginia community including: Beta Sigma Phi, Mrs. Jaycees, PTA, League of Women Voters, Meals-a-Moving, PEO, Medical Center Volunteers, Arrowhead Concert Association, Lake 14 Lake Leader Club, Sons of Norway, Virginia Area Historical Society and numerous bridge clubs.
Cory was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Mary Schmidt, and her husband “Buck”. Survived by children Sally (Jack) VanValkenburg, Ann Gavin (fiancé Michael Karaman), James “Jim” Hawkinson (Lynda), and David (Tina) Hawkinson, along with grandchildren Katherine (Tim) Dougherty, Ann Molitor (fiancé Justin Eder), Sam (Tamara) Gavin, Andy (Britt) Hawkinson, Kari, Hannah and Eric Hawkinson and great grandchildren Dominic, Benedict & Elizabeth Dougherty and Benjamin & Vera Gavin. Also survived by special nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and their families.
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Memorial service at 2 pm Sunday, March 17th at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia with visitation one hour prior. Memorials preferred to Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 901 4th St S, Virginia, MN 55792
Cory was born on December 27th, 1923 in Cook, MN to Cora (Howe) and Willis Beatty. Following her 1941 high school graduation, she attended two years of Virginia Jr. College and was employed by the Bridgeman Russell Headquarters in Virginia.
During WWII, Cory served in the WAVES, the women’s branch of the Navy, receiving training in Milledgeville at Georgia College of Women. After the war, Cory returned to Virginia to work for Oliver Mining. She met Edward “Buck” Hawkinson at a sledding party and they married in 1947. They were blessed with four children. She and Buck spent summers together at Lake 14 for 65 years. Always the gracious host, Cory entertained friends and family at the lake and at their home in Virginia. They had a wonderful retirement filled with friends, travel and family visits. In 2013, Cory and Buck moved to Trails of Orono to be closer to their children in Minneapolis. Buck passed away in 2016.
Cory was an active member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church and the wider Virginia community including: Beta Sigma Phi, Mrs. Jaycees, PTA, League of Women Voters, Meals-a-Moving, PEO, Medical Center Volunteers, Arrowhead Concert Association, Lake 14 Lake Leader Club, Sons of Norway, Virginia Area Historical Society and numerous bridge clubs.
Cory was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Mary Schmidt, and her husband “Buck”. Survived by children Sally (Jack) VanValkenburg, Ann Gavin (fiancé Michael Karaman), James “Jim” Hawkinson (Lynda), and David (Tina) Hawkinson, along with grandchildren Katherine (Tim) Dougherty, Ann Molitor (fiancé Justin Eder), Sam (Tamara) Gavin, Andy (Britt) Hawkinson, Kari, Hannah and Eric Hawkinson and great grandchildren Dominic, Benedict & Elizabeth Dougherty and Benjamin & Vera Gavin. Also survived by special nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and their families.
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Memorial service at 2 pm Sunday, March 17th at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia with visitation one hour prior. Memorials preferred to Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 901 4th St S, Virginia, MN 55792
My mom cherished her Beatty family. Beatty relatives visiting in the summer were often invited for a sauna at our Lake 14 cabin. Cora Rae was born and raised in Cook and left to attend college in Virginia, MN before joining the WAVES (women's branch of the Navy) during WWII. She & my dad, "Buck" Hawkinson raised the 4 of us in Virginia where my dad worked at and later owned Grande's Ace Hardware. She loved to cook, entertain and play bridge.
tribute by Ann Gavin