Barbara Aline Hawes

Barbara Aline (Christison) Hawes, 87, passed away on June 8, 2025, in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

She was born on July 27, 1937, in Las Vegas, Nev., the first child of Aline and Ralph M. (Chris) Christison. Barbara grew up in the intermountain states of Nevada, Utah and Idaho. She was a 1956 graduate of White Pine High School in Ely, Nev., and continued her education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, graduating in 1960 with a degree in elementary education. She taught fourth grade at East Ely Elementary for two years, then moved to Salt Lake City, where she continued teaching fourth and fifth grades.

While in Salt Lake, she met Bill Hawes, a young mining engineer, on a blind date. They were married on June 15, 1968, at her parents’ home in Ely. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti, Utah, temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She paused her teaching career to raise three children: Chris, Allison, and Jennifer. The family lived in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico before Bill and Barbara settled in the Prescott, Ariz., area in 1993.

Barbara loved music. She enjoyed singing, playing and teaching the piano and organizing musical numbers for church. She also drew on her teaching experience as a Brownie Scout troop leader, Relief Society teacher and substitute schoolteacher. Barbara loved keeping her mind busy by doing crossword puzzles, organizing trivia games and challenging her grandchildren to Chinese checkers. She loved broadening her mind through travel and visited Europe before she married. In retirement, she and Bill traveled throughout the United States and visited South America and Australia.

Barbara is survived by her husband Bill, son Chris (Linda), daughters Allison Bundy and Jennifer (William) Hosack, 10 grandchildren and sister LeeAnn Nelson. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son-in-law.

Funeral services will be 11 AM June 28, 2025, at the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7885 E Long Look Dr, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314.