Jerry Franklin Hawthorne

Jerry Franklin Hawthorne, 50, passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023, in San Angelo. Surrounded by family and friends.

Public viewing will be from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM Friday, February 3, 2023, at Robert Massie Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, February 4, 2023, at PaulAnn Church with Pastor Kirk Daulphin, officiating. Burial will follow at Eden Cemetery under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home.

Mr. Hawthorne was born November 18, 1972, in Big Lake. Jerry was a 1991 graduate of McCamey High School. Jerry was a veteran of the US Army serving from 1991 until 2001. Where he enlisted as a power generator equipment repairer, he then went to Basic Airborne and later became an MP. He received numerous decorations, medals, badges and campaign ribbons. Army achievement medal (2nd award), national defense service medal, humanitarian service medal, army service ribbon, army good conduct medal (2nd award), expert marksmanship qualification badge with rifle bar, and parachutist badge. After leaving active duty he joined the Army reserves from 10/1999 to 10/2001 and finally he served in the National Guard from 02/2010 to 09/2019 as his MOS starting as a Horizontal construction Engineer with the 822nd out of Brownwood. He then changed units and MOS's to the 236th Engineer Company Vertical construction out of Denton. With a total of 20 years of service. While in the military he traveled all over the US and Europe. He was stationed in Germany for almost 3 years and was able to travel back to Germany with the 822nd in 2017. While with the 236th he deployed to Afghanistan he was Bravo team leader for 1st squad he and his unit traveled all over Afghanistan rebuilding buildings that had been destroyed or setting up new buildings. He received numerous decorations, medals, badges and campaign ribbons. Afghanistan campaign medal w/campaign star, Army commendation medal (2nd award), Army achievement medal (3rd award), Army good conduct medal (2nd award), National defense service medal W/ Bronze service star, Global was on terrorism service medal, Humanitarian service ribbon, Overseas service ribbon (2nd award), Armed forces reserve medal w/M device, NATO medal and Parachutist badge. 1st squad became a family to Jerry and also his battle buddy he always said if it hadn't been for 1st squad he didn't think he would have been able to make it in Afghanistan. He made lifelong friends in both the 236th and 822nd. He considered them as family and until the day he passed he was still close with them. Jerry met the love of his life Sally in 2004 he would always say that Sally was the lucky one. Jerry married Sally Velasquez on June 19, 2008, in Eden. He has been a resident of San Angelo since 2009 moving from Eden. Jerry was a crude oil truck driver for Energy Transfer Services for 5 years. Jerry was a member of PaulAnn Church. He loved God, reading the Bible, and listening to Christian Music. Jerry liked history, fishing, the outdoors, cooking, and traveling.

Survivors include his wife, Sally Hawthorne of the home; three sons, James Hawthorne of Hopewell, Virginia, Sabastian Hawthorne and partner Chariti of San Angelo, Michael Hawthorne of Land O' Lakes, Florida; a daughter, Sienna Hawthorne of the home; two grandchildren, Anastasia Hawthorne, and James Carroll Hawthorne; his aunt Ima Jean Lucas and husband Jack of Goldsmith his mother, Diane Cowen and husband Michael of Waukee, Iowa; a sister, Juanita Rouse and husband Mark of West Des Moines, Iowa; father-in-law Sonny Velasquez and wife Rosie; mother-in-law Celia Velasquez all of Menard; three sisters-in-law, Martha Whitson and husband Jeff, April Hodges and husband Dustin all of Menard, and Marissa Gutierrez of San Angelo; two brothers-in-law, Marcus Velasquez and wife Selina of Del Rio, and Mario Velasquez of San Antonio; Jerry also had a bonus family Ryan and Danielle Carman of San Angelo; Jonathan and Laura Martin Carlsbad. Nieces Chloe Whitson, Nataleigh Velasquez, Casey Hodges, Addison Williams and Rylee Carman. Nephews Kayden Hopkins, Marc Velasquez, Rance and Rylan Velasquez and Nathan Carman. Also, his longtime companion who was there for Jerry during his time at home after being diagnosed with cancer Honey (the pug). Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Carroll Hawthorne; a granddaughter, Lilith Ann Hawthorne; his maternal grandparents, Richard W. Bliss and Juanita M. Bliss; and paternal grandparents, Jerry B. Hawthorne and Ima Pearl Hawthorne.

The Hawthorne family would like to thank all the staff at Shannon Medical Center for taking such good care of Jerry while he was admitted. To the nurses on 5 North Elsa, Paulette, Rosylnn, Cherry, Maira and Crystal I know there were quite a few more who cared for him as if he was family. To Dr. Nichols from Wound Care and his nurses Selma Aguilar, Anita Olnes and Megan Vick. Also, to Sloan in ICU who made it easier for Sally and the family to be able to say goodbye to Jerry. Dr. Gorsistos, Dr. Wood, Dr. Studt, Dr. Kirkland, Dr. Duarte, Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Cheruku and all of his staff that helped us get through Jerry's cancer diagnosis. Dixie Van Tine, Candi, and Dr. Taylor were all from the VA clinic. Also, to the Carman family and the Whitson family for being there by Sally's side during this difficult time. The staff at Meadow Creek, Lynette our VA Nurse Navigator. Also, to the Wound Care family who were there during this time of Jerry's illness and everyone who reached out and checked to see how we were; Ed, Dr. Nichols, Greg, Tina, Lori, Esmeralda, Rachel, Dulce, Selma, Megan, Anita, Sherryl, Gina, Lucinda, Trina and Alex.

Jerry's pallbearers will be Cesar Alvarado, Michael Brown, James Miyamoto, Alexander Lenox, Jeff Mayor, and Jonathan Martin.