Mary Jane (Martin) Hawkins
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Mary Jane (Martin) Hawkins died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Sunday, October 6, 2019. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Mary was born March 9, 1941 to Charles Wheeler Martin and Helen (Casement) Martin in rural Chautauqua County, Kansas, where she graduated from Sedan’s public schools. Mary was musically talented, with a fine singing voice, and played the flute and piano. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia (KSTC, now Emporia State University), she taught high school English at Goodland, Kansas before returning to KSTC and earned a master’s degree in library science. In 1967, she joined the library staff of Kansas City’s Midwest Research Institute (now MRIGlobal), and in 1970 moved to Lawrence as science cataloger with the University of Kansas Libraries. Mary was elected chair of the Library’s first promotion and tenure committee in 1973, and in 1974 accepted a one-year appointment as acting personnel director. She remained in KU library administration, serving nine years as assistant dean for personnel services, then ten years as assistant dean for public services. In 1994, Mary transferred to the Kansas Collection in KU’s Kenneth Spencer Research Library, where she created online catalog records for manuscript holdings and was an active member of the Kansas City Area Archivists. In her nearly forty years with KU, Mary served on many of its committees and elected bodies that enable faculty, staff, and student participation in University governance. She was twice elected to the University Council, chaired KU’s Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and served as Faculty Senate President in 1999/2000. Mary retired from KU in 2009, when she was granted emeritus faculty status. In retirement, Mary greatly enjoyed researching genealogy and sharing her findings with family and friends. In 2012, Mary underwent surgery for advanced-stage cancer, followed by years of chemotherapy and some periods of remission. She was grateful for the support of family and friends and for the skilled staff of the KU Cancer Center, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and Douglas County’s Visiting Nurses Association. Mary enriched many lives and will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Judy Quarles, and her “Grammy” Stella Martin. Mary is survived by her sister Lori Richmond (husband Allen) of Bartlesville, OK; brother-in-law Bill Quarles of Walnut Creek, CA; niece Sarah (Quarles) Jones (husband Steve) of San Francisco; nephew Kam Quarles (wife Karen) of Washington, D.C.; great nieces Josslyn Jones, Marina Jones, and Cate Quarles; and her aunt Mary Lou (Casement) Euler of Lansing, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the KU Library’s Kansas Collection or to the Nature Conservancy’s Kansas Chapter (both in care of Warren McElwain Mortuary, 120 West 13th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044).
We were so lucky to have Mary as our neighbor for the last twenty years.
Such a kind, and caring person.
We are very sad that she has passed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
God Bless you Mary, you fought a strong fight.
You will be missed.
The Simms, Candi, Lindsay, and Greg
To all who love Mary we are sending prayers of peace and comfort. We were blessed to be Mary’’s neighbor for many years. We shared many talks and smiles over the years. Heaven is a bit brighter with Mary’s smile and she will be missed by many of us who had the privilege to call her a friend.
Our sincerest sympathy to all of Mary’s family and friends
I am very sad to learn Mary Jane passed away. We started 1st grade together and soon became “best friends” for 12 years. She was very special. You could confide anything and know it would never be repeated……. she always had a smile …….. and we had many good times together. She accepted her illness with grace and understanding and was certainly an inspiration to others. I am truly blessed with the memories of times spent together.
Mary Jane was a wonderful lifelong friend. We went through grade school and high school together and had many good times. She was gracious, talented and beautiful. We all loved Mary Jane. She was very brave and courageous during her illness and an inspiration to everyone. We will miss her and be forever grateful that she was our dear friend. Many condolences to her family.
I worked under Mary for most of the 10 years she was Asst. Dean for Public Services at KU and thought she was wonderful. She was always pleasant and friendly, as well as helpful, and she always stood up for staff when needed.
I was so sorry to hear of her struggles with cancer and her passing. She’ll be missed by all of us who knew her. My deepest condolences to her family.
Warm thoughts and prayers to all family and friends. Lawrence Delta Zeta Alumnae sisters.
Mary and I met as freshmen at Emporia State and became good friends. Fifty years later we reunited and became the closest of friends spending many hours together these past ten years. I loved her wit, her dry sense of humor, and her intelligence. She was special and will be sorely missed. Til we meet again, dear friend.