Eric Edwin Hawkins…April 28, 1964 – December 3, 2018

Longtime Elizabeth, Colorado, resident Eric Edwin Hawkins passed away peacefully at home with his wife Lora and four children Megan, Hillary, Shelby and Garett at his side at age 54. After a colon cancer diagnosis, Eric lived his life to the fullest for the last 2½ years before being called to rest.

Eric was born to Edwin and Harriet Hawkins in Grand Junction, Colorado. He graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1982 then attended Colorado Mesa University, majoring in Computer Science. He also played basketball at CMU and still holds many records. He was an NAIA All-American and Academic All-American and would later be inducted into the CMU Hall of Honor in 2000.

After graduating with honors in 1986 he married his college sweetheart, Lora, and moved to Dallas to start his career as a computer software engineer. Two daughters and eight years later they returned to Colorado where Eric continued his engineering career. After landing in Elizabeth they completed their family with another daughter and son.

Eric enjoyed coaching his kids’ sports teams, working on home improvement projects, and hiking. Although not a hobby, he spent many hours helping his kids with their math homework. This helped prepare Eric for a short stint teaching math at Elizabeth High School, where he was also the girls’ basketball head coach for 3 years. Eric returned to his engineering career but remained very active in coaching and his kids’ activities.

In addition to enjoying the continued successes of his children, Eric experienced some highlights over the last two years, including hiking another 14er, watching the solar eclipse from Nebraska, and going on an Alaskan cruise. Although cut short, Eric lived a full and happy life and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Eric is survived by wife Lora (Mick), children Megan (29), Hillary (28), Shelby (21), and Garett (18), parents Edwin and Harriet of Elizabeth, brother Gregg of Garland, Texas, and numerous relatives and friends.

A memorial service celebrating Eric’s life will be held Friday, December 14, 2018 at 10:00A.M. at Harvest Bible Church in Elizabeth. The funeral home handling services is: Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel in Castle Rock, CO.  Contact:  J.R. Pinon, 303-688-3191.

A scholarship has been set up in Eric’s name at CMU. Donations can be made to the “Eric ‘The Hawk’ Hawkins Men’s Basketball Scholarship” at https://www.supportingcmu.com/give/scholarships or mailed to CMU Foundation, 1450 N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501.