Linda Jane Hawkins

Linda Jane “Nana” Hawkins was born January 20, 1943, at Old St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. She passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, at Intermountain Health St. Mary's Regional Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the City of Delta Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge in Delta, Colorado. Linda’s favorite color was red, and the family invites everyone to wear red in her honor at the service.

Linda is survived by her son, Gregg Hawkins and his wife, Lisa, of Delta, Colorado; her daughter, Tina Timbreza and her husband, Sean, of Delta, Colorado; her brother, Patrick Wakefield and his wife, Marguerite, of Montrose, Colorado; her nine grandchildren, Kyla, Douglas, Joshua, Amelia, Kaleb, Elizabeth, Philip, Paige, and Hallie; and her five great-grandchildren, NovaLee, Kohen Jack, Bransyn Lee, Louise Reed, and Juniper Grace; and her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, who were also a cherished part of her family.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Erastus La Von and Nora Ellen Wakefield; her former husband, Jack Hawkins; and her brother, Jerry Wakefield.

Linda grew up in Fruita, Colorado, until she was in the sixth grade. Her family did not have a television, so they listened to mysteries and music on the radio, ate popcorn together, and spent countless hours playing cards and games. They enjoyed fishing and camping as a family. Linda especially remembered her dad making biscuits in a Dutch oven that he would bury in the coals. She loved playing marbles, building forts with her brothers, and, of course, playing with her dolls.

In 1954, her family moved to Montrose, Colorado. Linda and her brothers walked to school until the family moved to a house in the country, where they rode the bus. She graduated from Montrose High School in 1961. She played the bass drum in the marching band and was a letter winner as a member of the Spirit Club.

Linda was very close with both of her brothers. Jerry, the oldest, always looked out for her and was her protector. He and his friends always kept an eye out for her. Linda and Pat were just thirteen months apart in age and were best friends growing up. They shared a room for most of their childhood and were always running around together.

The family would go to the movies for nine cents and went almost every time the movie changed. Linda was friends with Marguerite in school, and Pat fell in love with her and married her. Linda thought she had lost both her best friend and her brother, but instead, she got to have them both for the rest of her life. Their friendship was something very special.

Linda enjoyed watching sports. When she had children of her own, she never missed an event they participated in. She was their biggest fan, alongside her husband. Even after her son became a coach, Linda and Jack would travel to watch his teams. Once the grandchildren started playing sports, she was there for them too. The teams became her kids as well, and she cheered for and adopted them as her own.

She was a devoted Duke basketball fan and cheered for the Broncos—unless it was a close game, in which case she would hide in the bathroom until it was over. And if you ever played a game with Linda, you could be sure she was playing to win!

Linda loved bowling with her friends and her mother. They traveled to bowling tournaments together and bowled in competitive leagues. Jannete Springer taught Linda how to bowl in their front yard, where she developed and perfected her famous “step, step, pause, step, step, roll the ball” move. She became a good bowler, and the two of them won many tournaments together.

She also enjoyed crocheting blankets, doing a variety of crafts, and spending time with her mother in a local craft club. She made her own cards right up until her passing. Linda enjoyed both writing and receiving letters, and she had beautiful penmanship, a reflection of the care she put into everything she did.

Linda married Jack Hawkins in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 11, 1966. They were married for 39 years before divorcing. Linda and Jack moved to Delta, Colorado, in 1970, where Linda remained until her passing.

Linda was a stay-at-home mother who was always there for her family. She was the school room mother, chauffeur, chef, counselor, coach, 4-H leader, and “Ma Hawkins” to many in the community.

Her husband Jack was a member of the Delta Volunteer Fire Department for 27 years. Linda was very active in supporting the department, helping with dinners and Christmas parties, made countless popcorn balls and even participating in some of the competitions.

Linda and her mother, Nora, affectionately known as “Grandma Wakie,” were best friends. They did most things together. They canned fruits and vegetables, made crafts, bowled, cussed, laughed, cried, and loved each other like only a mother and daughter can.

Linda didn’t know a stranger. She was a genuinely friendly person who had a way of making people feel like they were part of her family and that they belonged. That extended even to her Facebook community. She would like and comment on people’s posts because she truly cared about them. It was often said that Linda was many people’s biggest cheerleader.

But the biggest part of Linda’s life was her family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her greatest joy. She loved them with her heart and soul, and she loved fiercely. She was their biggest cheerleader, always ready to celebrate their accomplishments, defend them, and remind them how deeply they were loved. And if she thought someone was wronging one of her people, they had better watch out!

Linda was a woman of faith. She grew up attending the Catholic Church with her mother and continued her faith journey as an adult. She was a prayer warrior and believed that God was always with her and that He would never let her feel alone. She often said that her life would be lost without her Savior.

Linda leaves behind a lifetime of memories, a family who adored her, and countless people who were blessed to know her. Her fierce love, generous spirit, sense of humor, faith, and unwavering support will live on in all those who loved her.