Talk of the Town: Special celebrations make us happy

A group of friends hosted a very special gathering June 14th when they honored Tubac residents Joe and Marge Hawkins in a double celebration. Not only was it the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary, it was also Joe’s 72 birthday bonanza.

More than 100 friends and family members packed the Stables Restaurant at the Tubac Golf Resort for the affair which included attendees from Phoenix, Tucson and Green Valley as well as Tubac.

Among those attending were many members and former members of Valley Presbyterian Church in Green Valley where Joe served as its first pastor and was a key figure in organizing and overseeing the church building.

The couple’s son Jeff, a detective with the Scottsdale, Ariz., police department and his wife Julie were in attendance. Unfortunately their oldest son Kevin could not make the event. Kevin is a professor at a university in Tokyo, Japan and was unable to get away.

Since it was Flag Day, red, white and blue necklaces and lapel flag pins were given to all. Tables were appropriately decorated with flags and other patriotic items and many guests donned their red, white and blue patriotic colors.

The special day was organized by a party committee: Larry and Dinghy Sharp, Jeanne Eddington, Harriet Molloy, Jean Riley, Billie Youngblut and Annabelle Davidson.

Entertainment was provided by vocalist Tamara Kahrimanis who also led the sing-along.

Food arrangements by the committee included an ample buffet including a variety of hot and cold dishes and of course, Joe’s birthday cake. A champagne toast to the Hawkins was followed by tributes from friends and the traditional birthday song.

A special reading from attendee Dr. Tom Bunting preceded the toast. Bunting described the Hawkins’ first date which included the movie, “Friendly Persuasion,” starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. They eventually married on June 19, 1959.

Joe went on to graduate from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, Calif., in 1967, moving that same year to Tucson where he served as a pastor at the Christ Presbyterian Church for five years and later at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church for four years. The Hawkins moved to Green Valley in 1977 and the couple and a dozen people whose ranks increased to 188, chartered the Valley Presbyterian Church.

“After 28 years of astounding growth, progress, love and compassion, Joe retired,” Bunting said,

rford@gvnews.com