Christine Julia (Ramey) Hawks

Christine Julia Ramey Hawks, 84, Vinton, took Pa's hand and left her home to be with Our Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 5, 2005. Her husband, Edgar W. Hawks, preceded her in death on June 23, 1992. Also preceding her in death were her parents, William C. Ramey and Arminta Theais Harper Ramey; a daughter, Joan Neal; grandsons, Ronnie Neal and Buford Wesley Ball; a granddaughter, Christine Lynn Newbecker; brothers, Grover and Noah Ramey; and sisters, Virginia Ramey and Katherine Hatfield.

Her surviving sons and daughters are William C. (Anna) Hawks, Vinton; Edgar W. (Dawn) Hawks, Albion, Michigan; David W. (Linda) Hawks, Wylie, Texas; Randy D. (Belinda) Hawks, Vinton; Kay F. (Buford) Ball, Porter; Carol L. (Robert) Matthews, Concord, Michigan and Altina R. (Donald) Gibson, Gallipolis.

She is also survived by twenty-three grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, a great-great grandchild and several step grandchildren; two brothers and a sister, William Ramey, Vinton; Lee Ramey, Kentucky and Audrey Justice, Columbus.

Christine and Ed left the coal mining community of Logan, West Virginia in 1955 and leased a farm near Bidwell. With nine children, they soon found another bigger home which they purchased near Vinton. Christine moved into this farmhouse big enough to raise her family February 4, 1956. She and her children worked very hard in the gardens and hayfields, as well as taking care of chickens, pigs and cows; milking by hand and making butter and buttermilk.

She helped Pa and the boys log and helped with the chores to be done as she taught her children to work. At the end of each day, she knelt down to pray with her children, giving thanks for the land and the means for rearing her family.

Christine became a member of the Vinton Baptist Church in the late 1950's, where she loved to share the Word of God by teaching her Sunday School Class and helping where she was needed in church activities. She was a Christian witness to her family and friends, eager to share in prayer and spreading the Gospel. With her Angel-like voice, she sang in the church choir.

Christine was a strong woman and a great lady even in death, her family remained strong and she left us with the following thought: "Don't cry for me because I'm gone...smile because I was here."

Services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at the Vinton Baptist Church, 11818 State Route 160, Vinton with Pastor Marvin Sallee officiating. Burial will follow in the Hawks Family Cemetery near Vinton. Friends may call at the Vinton Baptist Church from 2:00-4:00 PM and 7:00-9:00 PM Monday, November 7, 2005. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, 208 Main St, Vinton, Ohio.