John Aaron Hawkins

John Aaron Hawkins (88) of Farmington,NM passed away on October 22, 2026. John was born on March 24, 1938 in Tucson, AZ to LaVona and John Quinton.

John Hawkins was a graduate of Kirtland Central High School and the University of Arizona. John met his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth, when they were both students in the Elementary Education program. After graduating, he spent 30 years as a teacher for the Farmington School District, primarily at Bluffview Elementary and Ladera Elementary. He taught many hundreds of students at every elementary level but especially loved teaching 5th grade. In 1997, he was recognized as New Mexico’s Top Teacher of the Year.

In the 1980s and 90s, John was also a weekend disc jockey on the Farmington radio station KWYK. Radio broadcasting was at its peak and John “the Hawk” Hawkins achieved minor celebrity status with local listeners who called in with pop song requests.

John and his wife, Elizabeth, met at the University of Arizona while studying elementary education and were married for 57 years. Since the early 1970s, they lived in Fruitland, New Mexico where he proudly built an adobe house with his own hands. Together with his extended family, he raised apples in a large orchard near the home, which were sold along the Hwy 64 roadside. After retiring as a schoolteacher, he built wooden rocking horses, which he also sold, at cost, along the road. He loved serving and connecting with people face-to-face and ran a popular snow cone stand during summer months. He loved spending time with his brother and best friend, David, at any area thrift store hunting for bargains and ice cream.

John was an avid runner who could often be found training on area tracks. He ran multiple marathons and aspired to achieve a great time in the mile. His best reported time was 4:40.

As a lifelong, active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John served faithfully in his local congregation. This includes acting as his ward’s financial clerk for over twenty years ,a modern record for consecutive time in a single calling. As a young man, he served as a full-time missionary in the Northern States Mission.

John made a remarkable impact on his large family (7 children, 23 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren) and everyone he met in the community. He preferred to work humbly and behind the scenes. He remains an inspirational giant to all who knew him.

John is preceded in death by his son John Ammon Hawkins, his parents LaVona and John Quinton, his brothers Norman and David, his sister Lavona and his grandson Nephi Paul Seavey.

John is survived by his wife Elizabeth Bieling Hawkins, his son Aaron Roe Hawkins (wife Kellie Hawkins), his daughters Lisa Seavey (husband Brian Seavey), Jennifer Dawn Poyer, Carly Jayne Sherwood (husband Stanton Sherwood), Carrie Elizabeth Ritchie (husband Jeremiah Ritchie), Megan Susanne Mitchell (husband Ross Mitchell), his sister Louise Jorgensen, his grandchildren Jackson Hawkins (wife Heidi Hawkins), Jessica Hawkins, Joshua Hawkins, Ammon Seavey, Ella Seavey (husband Houston Hancock), Lilly Seavey (husband Ali Ishak), Mosiah Seavey, Helaman Seavey, Benjamin Poyer (wife Madison Poyer), Elsa Poyer, Gabriel Poyer, Vivian Poyer, Brock Sherwood, Claudia Sherwood, Estelle Sherwood, Taylor Sherwood, Wendel Ritchie, Reagan Ritchie, William Ritchie, Ben Mitchell, Clara Mitchell, Davy Mitchell, and his great- grandchildren Sonny Paul Hancock, Owen David Hawkins, Sigrid Poyer.

Services will be held on November 7th, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Kirtland stake center) 10 Rd 6523, Kirtland, NM 87417

In lieu of flowers, John would love if we all did an unexpected kindness for someone.