John Reuben Bacon Hawes, Jr., 92, passed away peacefully on October 3rd, 2024. Born on September 6, 1932, in Kingston, New York, John was the second child of John R. B. Hawes, Sr., and Elizabeth Rood Hawes. He grew up in various communities across New York, North Carolina, and Massachusetts due to his father’s professional transfers before settling in Morganton, North Carolina, from the age of 11.

John graduated from Morganton High School in 1950 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1954, majoring in Radio. He furthered his education later in life, achieving both his M.Ed. (1978) and Ed.D. (1981) from Duke University.

He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, where he was trained as a medic and served with the Medical Company, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He attained the rank of Specialist 2 (E-5) and was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary service.

Following his military service, John worked at WUNC-TV in Chapel Hill as Production and Operations Manager from 1957 to 1961. In 1961, he was appointed the first Supervisor of Television Education by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. His career continued with notable positions at the Learning Institute of North Carolina in Durham, where he became Executive Director in 1973, and later with the Louisiana Department of Education in Baton Rouge as Education Consultant and Director of Public Information from 1982 to 1986.

In 1987, John returned to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he took on his final professional role as an Education Consultant and Administrator with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. He dedicated nearly a decade to improving public education in the state before retiring in 1996. His work, both in North Carolina and beyond, left a lasting impact on educational policy and the lives of countless students and educators.

John was married to the love of his life, Jean Ann Hakanson, on November 26, 1960. Together, they built a family and raised two children, Sandra Hawes Kelly and Eric Marshall Hawes. John was a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather. His family expanded to include four beloved grandchildren: Anne Kelly Churchill (Jeremy), Megan Kelly, Chloe Hawes, Bryce Hawes, and two great grandchildren, Anderson and Finley Churchill.

John’s life was marked by his deep faith and commitment to his community. A lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), he was an ordained Elder and Deacon, serving in various congregations. He was active in his local Presbytery and served as a commissioner to the 2010 General Assembly of PCUSA.

In retirement, John continued to contribute to his community by delivering Meals on Wheels, participating in the Congregations for Social Justice, and Habitat for Humanity. Through St. Giles Presbytery, he participated in four mission trips to help communities in need. After moving to Grace Ridge Retirement Community in Morganton, John remained engaged in resident activities, including serving on the Residents Association Board, the Welcoming Committee and as an editor of the Mountain View Newsletter.

John was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Miller (2020) his son-in-law Don Kelly (2023) and his daughter Sandra Kelly (2024). He is survived by his wife Jean, his son Eric, his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his brother-in-law, Albert Miller. John will be remembered for his quiet leadership, his dedication to education, his unwavering faith, and the love he shared with his family. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Morganton on November 2nd, 2024 at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity.

He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, and faith. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.