GORHAM- Paul Richard Hawkes, aged 61, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 17, 2022 in a single car accident after experiencing a medical emergency. Paul was born on August 29, 1960 in Eastport, Maine to Barbara and Arnold Hawkes. Paul was a 1978 Gorham High School graduate and majored in Religious Studies at Tufts University and completed his Master's of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Paul married his soulmate, Beth Deering Hawkes, in Gorham, Maine on May 24, 1985 after having attended the same church since childhood and falling in love as young adults. Paul and Beth raised their two incredible children, Alice and Adam, in Gorham before moving to Georgia in 2015, with their daughter.
Over the years, Paul led numerous Bible studies where he shared the love of Jesus and his wealth of knowledge with the church. Not one for the spotlight, Paul was a behind-the-scenes cheerleader for everyone he knew; he was warm, kind, generous, and quick to laugh. He opened his home as an honorary father to dozens of young adults in the community. Paul was also a Boston Red Sox and Manchester United superfan, an avid reader, solitaire player, and was ready for a last-minute adventure, no matter the circumstances.
Although most passionate about his faith, Paul went on to have a distinguished career in Maine and later in Georgia. Despite success, Paul’s commitment to honoring Christ in all he did remained paramount. Whether that meant building meaningful relationships with his colleagues or prioritizing undistracted quality time with his wife and children, those around him always knew they were loved.
Lasting family memories include a national tour of Major League Baseball parks, spending three weeks traversing Europe, and their annual trips to New York City seeing Broadway shows and laughing together. Each spring, Paul channeled his wit and sensitivity in the Deering Family Easter Egg Hunt, where he crafted individual treasure hunts for each child composing riddles and jokes tailored to their specific interests and shared memories. Paul was so incredibly proud of his children and made sure to tell them so at every opportunity.
Since his passing, hundreds of friends and family members have reached out to the Hawkes family, sharing memories and condolences. Of all the kind words shared, the resounding theme has been Paul’s gift for recognizing the best in others and through his quiet caretaking, empowering them to thrive.
Paul often joked that he disliked people, preferring to be in his home reading the newest Dan Brown novel or watching the Red Sox while everyone else was at the party; the truth is, for someone who said they did not like people, he loved everyone he met, wholeheartedly.
Paul leaves a legacy of tenderness, faithfulness, and wisdom. He was thoughtful, compassionate, and endlessly funny. He viewed all of life through a single lens: How best can I honor Christ?
Paul was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him. No stranger to grief himself, Paul joins his parents and sisters, Gayle and Ellen, in heaven. He is survived by his wife, Beth; sisters, Susan (Hawkes) Corliss of Lewiston, and Wendy (Cordova) Jones and her husband Rodney of Loganville, GA; daughter, Alice and her wife Nicole Speed of Saco; son, Adam and his wife Naomi (Abrams) of Marina del Rey, CA; sisters-in-law, Deborah Witherspoon, Greensboro, NC, Diane Meech and husband Phil, Becky Randall and husband Lee, all of Scarborough; Brothers-in-law Glen Deering and wife Julia of Scarborough, John Merrow of Gorham, ME; many nieces: Jami, Lisa, Micki, Heather, Jennifer, Libby, Margaret, Jill, Iliana and Abigayle; nephews, Bryan, Davis, Mitchell, and Drew; and many great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
Friends, family, and others whose lives were touched by Paul are invited to Centerpoint Church (formerly South Gorham Baptist Church) at 53 County Rd, Gorham, ME from 6-8pm on Friday, March 25 for visiting hours, and again at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 26th for a funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Gorham Food Pantry at PO Box 547 Gorham ME 04038. Paul’s compassion and care for others was instilled in him from his mother Barbara, who was also a pillar of the Gorham community and a founding member of the Gorham Food Pantry.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com