Miriam B Hawkins

Miriam Martha Bender Hawkins, age 93, passed away peacefully at her home, in Bountiful Utah, on December 12, 2024. She was born on May 9, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Herman and Lina Bender.

Miriam was the third oldest of 11 children. When she was only three years old, her family moved from Salt Lake City back to their roots in Germany to get relief from the effects of the depression. After living there for about a year, Miriam's father could sense the political unease and tension in Germany and decided to move the family back to Utah.

Miriam grew up on Laird Avenue in Salt Lake City and attended East High School. Shortly after finishing high school, and desiring a change, she moved across the country to New York City to work. She loved the big city life and worked various jobs while in New York.

Upon returning to Salt Lake City, she began working as a comptometer for Cudahy meatpacking where she met a young man named Eugene Hawkins. After dating a few short months, they were married on October 9, 1953, and they were later sealed in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple on September 10, 1954. They were able to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary together in October 2023.

Miriam was a master bookkeeper and worked with Eugene at his chiropractic office as an office manager for many years. She was also an immaculate housekeeper and a very talented seamstress. She created many beautiful pieces of clothing for family and friends.

Miriam was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and had a firm testimony of the Savior. She devoted her life to faith and family. She served faithfully in many church callings. She would spend hours preparing lessons and making visual aids to share her unwavering testimony. She worked as a tour guide at Temple Square and the Church Office Building for many years as well as an Ordinance Worker at the Bountiful Utah Temple. She particularly enjoyed working on her family’s genealogy and spent countless hours researching her family ancestry.

Miriam and Eugene were blessed with four children. Leslie (Steve) McGowan, Susan (Glen) Dawson, David (Yise) Hawkins and Robin (Rick) Jeffrey, 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, and Navajo daughter Shirley Dee.

Miriam loved her family and delighted in any chance to spend time with them. She attended every program, play, concert or special event that she could possibly attend to support her family. She also loved spending time with her siblings when they could all get together.

Miriam possessed a kind, loving and gracious demeanor and she will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her. Heaven truly gained an angel at her passing.

Miriam is proceeded in death by her husband, Eugene, her parents and five of her siblings.

The family wishes to express our love and gratitude to all those who have taken such great care of Mom during the last few years. A special thank you to A+ Hospice, Stacey, Rachel and Alexis and her devoted and loving in-home caregiver Cristy Sestoso.

Funeral services for Miriam will be held on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1825 South 800 East, Bountiful, Utah 84010, at 12:00 p.m. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral services from 10:30 to 11:45 that morning. The internment will follow at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah 84010.

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