Byron Hawk

Byron W Hawk , 71, of Prairie Village, KS passed away peacefully, on March 23, 2021 surrounded by family. A gathering of friends and family will begin at 8:30 am at Johnson County Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, March 31; leaving for the National Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth at 9:15 am. Due to current restrictions, we are limited to the number of visitors we can have in attendance for the services. Donations to Wounded Warriors or St Jude’s Hospital are suggested in his memory.

Byron was born on July 12, 1949, the youngest of 4, in KC, MO, to Ed and Olive Hawk. When he was 6, the family moved to Merriam, KS where he attended Crestview Elementary and Milburn Middle School. His high school years were spent in Mexico, MO where he was a member of the 1968 graduating class of Mexico Missouri Military Academy. Although tough years as a teen, he was very proud of his achievements and the experiences there. He was an extremely hard worker and took on several jobs upon his return home in ’68 knowing military service would be knocking soon.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1969 and received his honorable discharge in February 1974. He met his wife of 49 years, Norma, in 1970 and the couple were married on March 11, 1972. They made their home in Albany, GA until he left to cruise the Mediterranean aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, serving on the flight deck in April 1973. When he arrived back home, the family established their home in Roeland Park, KS where their first child, son, Shawn E. Hawk was born on March 8, 1975. The family settled at their final home in Prairie Village, KS in May, 1978 where they welcomed their second child, daughter, Tamara (Tammi) L. Hawk, born June 20, 1980.

He never shied from hard work and took pride in every job he did. He was most proud of his military service and being a veteran. He decorated the yard for every National Holiday, with flags, banners and a blow-up of Uncle Sam.

Jobs were scarce at the time of his discharge and he found himself doing such odd work as moving houses on flatbed trucks in the middle of the night; sitting atop the structures to lift power lines as they passed through intersections. He went from making paint at Tnemec Paint Company in North Kansas City for a number of years to painting and working in new home construction.

He enjoyed many hobbies from travel, bowling, car races to car shows. He was very fond of his grandchildren and children in the neighborhood and delighted in decorating the yard with blow-ups for all holidays.

He was diagnosed with throat & neck cancer in 2007 which caused him to go onto disability and end his working years. He still worked around the house and yard. He has been able to enjoy attending televised church services presented by Adam Hamilton at the Methodist Church of the Resurrection. As a young man, he enjoyed attending rallies at Youth for Christ with his sister on Friday nights.

Byron was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bruce and sister, Barbara Clayton. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Norma, Son, Shawn (Denna), daughter, Tammi (Brandi), Grandsons, Samuel and Jacob Hawk, brother, Frank (Ginny), 2 nephews, one great-nephew, great-niece and a new great-great niece.