Support Betsy's Legacy: Help Wade Honor Her

Hello all, my name is Wade Hawks. After a years long battle with the complications of congestive heart failure, my wonderful mother Elizabeth "Betsy" Hawks recently passed, surrounded by loved ones, on the night of Wednesday April, 17, 2024.

Betsy, "Momma" as I called her, was an amazing woman and tried her best to share love everywhere she went. She raised me as a single mother, doing daycare in our home so that she was able to care for me firsthand. We had a hard time growing up, but she always did everything she could to make sure I had the things I wanted, let alone needed, and food was always on the table. While I was transitioning from Junior High to High School, she was doing night classes to finish her bachelors degree. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Sociology at the age of 56. With her degree in hand, she continued to pursue her passion for helping people taking on the role of a case manager for MERS Goodwill to facilitate TANIF among other benefits targeting the underprivileged. A few years later she made the move to the Missouri Department of Family Services, working endlessly long hours to help children around the state have a shot at a brighter future.

Throughout all the ups and downs she was always there for me. From the time I was young she made sure that I was playing all the sports I wanted, planning so that I could play traveling baseball when we didn't have a car, and attended every single game. She did this and more, all while helping me get good grades and teaching me the importance of education. As I got older she supported my decision to tap out of sports and join the band, despite the additional costs associated with that decision. The support continued, with her coming to every performance she didn't have class during, getting me a space set up to practice at home, and finding ways to send me on trips to places she's never been while money was tighter than ever. I never once doubted how much she loved me or the friends I picked up along the way.

Heading into college, despite her struggles with the empty nest, she gave me the space to grow into an adult and was on my team even as I stopped pursuing my degree. She was always more confident that I would figure out something I liked doing than I was, and thankfully she was right. As her health declined over the last few years there were many low points, but she always maintained that positive outlook she was known for; she was planning for the future and excited about her recovery process despite her health fluctuating significantly. I was able to get her transferred to St. Louis last Christmas, which allowed us to see each other almost every day during the last few months of her life. She was excited to hear about the life I've been building up here professionally and socially, and it was comforting for her to know I found love, a career I enjoy, and a safe home. She easily made new friends, enjoyed events, and was, for the most part, content there right up to the end. She moved to Barnes on Friday April 12th where we discovered she had an infection on the heart valve that was replaced the year before and that she wouldn't be making it out of the hospital this time. The next few days were spent having visits with friends, family, and loved ones until the time of her peaceful passing.

All funds raised are to be used for any postmortem care needs as well as the hosting of a Celebration of Life and putting up two memorials in her honor. Any remaining funds will be used by me, Betsy's only child, to help navigate the grieving process during this transitional time, to facilitate trips for the purpose of spreading of Mom's ashes in some of the places she never made it to, and towards the general goals she had for me. Thank you for your contributions, thoughts, and prayers while arrangements are being made.