Jere R. Hawn
January 26, 1932 – October 3, 2024
There are so many loving memories of Jere’s life. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1950 and then Western Washington University. His university studies were interrupted by the Korean War where he served in the Navy at both Adak, AK and on the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116) where he viewed 16 of the 17 nuclear bomb testings. He said, “They were impressive and there wasn’t a huge noise but only a pressure popping of the ears. The colors were blues and greens not the massive yellows and reds that are seen on TV.” After the war, he returned to WWU to finish his degree in history, started a family, and rejoined the Navy. As a carrier pilot, he flew S-2F off the USS Hornet (CVS-12), and A-3Ds off the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) and the USS America (CVA-66). He retired from his Navy career in 1978. His last tour in the Navy lasted four years and included his family in the Republic of South Korea. During Jere’s retirement (1978 through most of 2024), he spent his time with friends and family in Whatcom County. His activities ranged from reading, fishing, selling cars, property management, and partaking of his daily coffee klatch.
Other notables were that he was an avid reader. He read 1,600 words a minute and would often read three books a day. One of his favorite daily jaunts was to the Bellingham Public Library. His Navy flying tours of duty took him to Pensacola FL, Millington TN, Kingsville TX, Long Beach CA, Chula Vista CA, Monterey CA, Oak Harbor WA, Pearl Harbor HI, La Jolla CA, and Seoul ROK. He retired to Chuckanut Drive and then later to Semiahmoo in Blaine. He passed away with family next to him at PeaceHealth St. Joseph hospital of natural causes.
Jere is preceded in death by his twin sister, Barbara Leighly (John), and first wife, Jean Hawn. He is survived by his wife Karen Hawn; children Jere G. Hawn (Lisa), Renee Burnett (William) and Donald Hawn (Lesley); stepchildren Renee Ornelas, Leticia Ornelas, Frank Ornelas (Natasha) and family, Conrad Ornelas, and Victor Ornelas; grandchildren Jere R. Hawn II, Sara Rogers (Tom), Codi Hawn and Kawela Hawn. He loved playing great-grandpa to Devonte and Qurtell Gonzalez.
There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.
