NELDA ARMEDIA (BROWN) HAWKINS, 66, of Winfield, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 with her husband and family at her side.

She was born October 27, 1942 in Wichita, KS to A. Cheetham and Mary Jane Nelson. Glenn F. and Leola M. (Black) Brown of Wichita, adopted her on April 6, 1944. Mr. Brown was serving in the US Navy and after the war the family purchased and moved to a farm east of Cherryvale, where Nelda was raised. She attended Labette County schools and graduated from Labette County High in 1960.

Nelda married William (Jack) A. Backes in 1963 and the couple later divorced. She then married James Shively in 1972. Mr. Shively died in 1982. In 1984, Nelda was united in marriage to Henry R. Hawkins at the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Chanute.

After attending business college, Nelda held a number of jobs to include Reda Pump and Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville. After starting a family, she was employed by Famous Brands and enjoyed a full career selling real estate, holding licenses in several states. She further progressed in real estate handling relocation properties and later processed and closed property sales for several of the countries larger firms as Henry's career took them to several states. After retirement, she continued to keep busy, enjoying a short career demonstrating sales products in and around southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. She considered this activity more as a hobby than work.

Nelda was a member of the Lutheran Church of Chanute. She enjoyed collecting glass baskets and special dolls. She loved to travel, especially on short trips to area events. Some of her favorite short trips were to auctions of any type, where she often stated, "it was just as much fun to watch and talk to people and sometimes didn't buy a thing". She also enjoyed local and state fairs and most local events, to include the Walnut Valley Festival and Country Roundup, where she generally assisted in the production and operation. As a child, she had several pets, many were wild animals she had raised from mere babies, and those memories remained dear to her through life. She held the Expert Marksman award and badge from the NRA.

Her family includes:
Her mother: Leola M. Brown of Dexter;
Her husband: Henry R. Hawkins of the home;
Her sons: William Albert Backes, Jr. of Chanute; and James C. Backes of Ormond Beach, FL;
Her step-son: William H. Hawkins of Wellsville;
Her step-daughter: Geni I. Hendershot and husband, Michael of Powell, OH; and
Her grandchildren: David C. Backes and Layce J. Backes of Chanute.
Nelda was preceded in death by her father, Glenn Brown in 1984.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at Tisdale United Methodist Church. Inurnment will follow at Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call at Miles Funeral Service on Thursday, April 16, from 5 to 9 P.M. The family will greet visitors from 5 to 8 that evening.

Memorials have been established in Mrs. Hawkins name for the Tisdale United Methodist Church gymnasium fund and for Hospice Care of Kansas. Contributions may be made through Miles Funeral Service.