Rosemary M. (Cottrell) Hawkins, age 78, passed away in McKinleyville on June 8, 2017, following a long and courageous battle with Hepatitis C and medical complications that followed; she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1999.  Rosemary was born on April 22, 1939 in San Francisco to James and Naomi Cottrell. The family moved to Arcata in the fall of 1945.  Rosemary graduated from College Elementary School in 1952 and Arcata Union High School in 1956.  She completed three semesters at Humboldt State College before moving to Menlo Park in 1958, where her oldest son, Mike, was born in 1959.  In 1960, Rosemary moved to Orange, where her children Laura, Scott, and Drenna were born. 

In 1971, Rosemary married the love of her life, Bruce Hawkins.  Rosemary, along with her family, moved back to Humboldt County in 1972, where they raised their family and became part of the community.   She resumed her college education at Humboldt State University graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in social science in 1975; she also completed all of her classroom work toward a masters’ degree in History.  She started working at HSU in 1976 as a department secretary.  She worked in a variety of departments until her retirement in 2002. During her time working at Humboldt State, she began a decades-long ritual of having lunch on Wednesdays with her dear friends Dee McBroome, Sherry Deffenderfer, Anita Iglesias, Margaret Cole and Elisa Abelleira; a tradition that continued until recently when Rosemary was no longer able to to attend.  

One of Rosemary’s great loves was working on her high class reunions.  After missing her 10th and 20th high school reunions, she worked on her reunions from her 25th through her 60th.  Besides working on her own reunions, she trained others in planning their reunions.  Another love of Rosemary’s was researching the family genealogy; she spent years tracing the family heritage.  She was able to trace the Cottrell family back to 1664 in New Kent, Va.

Rosemary’s primary passion in life was family.  She and Bruce raised four children and their grandson, Rick Hess.  She loved being with her seven grand-children, and enjoyed watching them in their activities.  After retirement, her life revolved around her grand-children; her days were scheduled around their activities and needs.  Rosemary was so pleased to have lived long enough to be with her two great-grand-children, both born in 2016.   Her love of her family is what sustained her energy level.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents James and Naomi Cottrell; husband Bruce Hawkins; daughter Laura Hawkins; and her sister Margaret Hall.  She is survived by her son Mike McKelvey; son Scott (Dawn) Hawkins; daughter Drenna (Rick) Smith; grandchildren Rick Hess, Kyle Smith, Ashleigh Smith, Skyler Hawkins, Taylor Hawkins, Tucker Hawkins, and Sawyer Hawkins; great-grandchildren Jamison Hess and Gracie Spallino; brother Steve Cottrell; brother Harry (Claudia) Cottrell;  brother-in-law Wayne (Stella) Hawkins; aunt Leone Cottrell Adkins; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  

Services for Rosemary Hawkins will be held at Azalea Hall Pierson Park in McKinleyville on July 15, 2017 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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The obituary above was submitted by Rosemary Hawkins’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.