Reta E. (Cody) Hawkins was born November 9, 1935, in Oberlin, KS, to
George and Verna (Chapin) Cody. The youngest of seven children, she grew
up at the Sappa State Park where her dad, George, was Park
Superintendent. In 1949, they moved to town. Reta attended school in
Oberlin.
Reta met her future husband, “Shorty” Duane Hawkins, at a dance in
Norcatur. Shorty was in the Air Force at that time. They were married on
July 24, 1954, in Oberlin, KS. To this union, three children were born,
Cheryl Ann, Robert Duane and Sandra Lee.
In 1960, the couple made their home in McDonald, KS, where Shorty leased
land from his Aunt Daisy and started farming. When the children were
school age, Reta began helping with the farming. She drove a 730 John
Deere with a buggy top and radio, pulling a 14 ft one way. When harvest
time came, she drove the farm truck to the elevator. Reta also drove the
school bus during the school year. She drove 2 generations of children
in her over 30 years of driving. It was the best job she ever had and
loved each and every kid, and they loved her too.
Reta and Shorty had a lot of adventures together, from owning and
operating semi’s, owning a bar and running a gas station, to racing
stock cars, hunting and fishing. They bought land in Missouri, for
retirement, and moved there in 1978. In 1983, they moved back to western
Kansas and built a home in McDonald. Shorty tinkered in his shop until
he died on May 15, 2015. Reta stayed in the home until her last days.
She passed away peacefully, in the hospital, surrounded by her family,
on July 30, 2021.
Reta was preceded in death by her husband Shorty; her parents, George
and Verna Cody; three brothers, Roy Cody, Warren Cody and Elden Cody;
two sisters, Irel Myers and Arvilla McCloud and three grandchildren,
Michelle Hawkins, Bradley Hawkins and Jesse Hawkins.
She is survived by her children, Cheryl Weishapl, of St. Francis, Robert
Hawkins, of St. Francis, and Sandra Lee, of McDonald, KS;
grandchildren, J.D. Hawkins, Rex Weishapl and wife Emily, and Alexis
Weishapl; great grandchildren, Chase Hawkins, Xavier Weishapl, Elina
Weishapl and Iris Weishapl and one sister, Gara Lee Sprague. She will be
deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.
Visitation is from 5-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at Baalmann
Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 4,
2021, at the Bird City Wesleyan Church, with burial in Grace Cemetery,
McDonald, KS. For information or condolences visit
www.baalmannmortuary.com