Eldon Lewis Hawes, 88, of Denton passed away on September 12, 2021. He was born in Cache, Oklahoma to C.A. and Mancy Hawes Pidcock.

Lew was born during the depression era. His father died when he was 6 months and 2 days old, his mother remarried to Cecil Pidcock who was his Papa. He was one of fourteen children. From an early age Lew knew what it was to work hard to help his family to survive. He graduated from Duncan HS in 1952, joining the US Army at the age of nineteen. When stationed at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, he met the love of his life, Marion Pittaro. They spent over fifty-six years raising two daughters together. His Army career carried he and his family to many states and countries. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam war. After twenty- three years and rising to the rank of 1st Sergeant, he retired. Moving back to the Denton area, Lew spent the next twenty years as a foreman for the City of Denton. He spent the remainder of his years tending to his farm and animals, especially his horse JoeBud, Brahman Bull, Ozzie and dogs Chico, Pudge and Ranger. Dad's happiest moments were making memories with his family. We love and miss you already. Good night, Cowboy.

He is survived by his daughters, Sharon Pritchard and her husband, David of Denton, Linda Hawes Wilson and husband Bruce of Burleson, Texas, sisters, Cina Buehler, Betty DeForest and Lou Seim and brother and sister-in-law Sonny and Elaine Pittaro, and brother-in-law Rudi Szilvasi from Trenton, New Jersey, grandchildren, Kyle Pritchard and his wife, Leslie, Katie Waters and her husband, Blake, two great-grandchildren, Lucas, and Logan Pritchard.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marion Hawes, his mother and fathers, sisters, Eva Jones, Ada Bernard, Dessie Warriner, Viola Merritt, and Joleverne Pidcock, Deloris Bernard, and sister-in-law Roseann Szilvasi,  brothers, Chester Hawes, Alvin Hawes, Dink Pidcock and Howard Ray Pidcock.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 16, 2021, from 5-7PM at DeBerry Funeral Directors. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denton, Texas at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton.

The family requests that all donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.