Obituary of Helen Elizabeth Hawk Townley

Helen Elizabeth "Betty" Hawk Townley, age 106, passed away on November 1, 2013, in Cottonwood, Arizona after a long and loving life in service to family and friends. Betty was born to Charles Clarence Hawk and Lilly Pearl Black Hawk in Shawnee, Oklahoma Territory, September 27, 1907. She graduated from Shawnee High School. She later attended Oklahoma Baptist University. Betty majored in home economics, a discipline that she practiced for more than 90 years. On June 29, 1929, she married Max Henry Townley in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in the same room in which she was born. The young couple lived in several small Oklahoma oil towns before settling in Oklahoma City in 1938. Their lives revolved around church, family and friends. She loved interior design and the latest fashions. After several moves for business to Texas and California, they retired to the Verde Valley to be close to their children. Betty's life was marked by her joy in people, her love of music and her strong and abiding faith in Christ. She greatly enjoyed traveling and was especially fond of the annual summer trips to California and living in several, "Townley Teepees." There she built cherished memories for several generations of family and friends. Betty and Max raised three successful children. Betty offered advice on affairs of the heart throughout her life when asked. She is remembered with great affection by all. She was our "Rose in Bloom." Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Max, her parents, Charles Clarence and Lilly Pearl Hawk, brothers, Clarence Charles Hawk and Thomas Lafayette Hawk,her sister, Harriette Regina (Hawk) Ellis, her son, John Mark Townley, Sr., her granddaughter, Barbara Elizabeth (Townley) Codega and great-grandsons, Ryan Delmar Bauers and Royce Herbert Morgan. She is survived by her daughter Ann Elizabeth (Townley) Everett, Camp Verde, Arizona, son Charles Thomas Townley, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and by her grandchildren Cynthia (Townley) Ewer, Richland, Washington, John Mark Townley Jr., Reno, Nevada, Maryssa Ann Morgan, Camp Verde, Arizona, Royce Townley Morgan, Wasilla, Alaska, Phillip Harvey Morgan, Anchorage, Alaska and Peggy Ann (Morgan) Boswell, Wasilla, Alaska . Also, Betty is survived by her great-grandchildren Brigantia Nivatugena, Overton, Nevada, Ryan Swain, Dayton, Nevada, Derek Codega, Reno, Nevada, Melinda "Mindy Beth" (Codega) Amundsen, Las Vegas, Nevada, Collin Codega, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Marc Codega , Rancho Cucamonga, California, Matthew Boswell, Seattle, Washington and Katelyn Elizabeth Boswell. She is also survived by great-great-grandchildren, Brenyn and Euan Swain of Dayton, Nevada. Her "daughters in love" include Kaye (Thompson) Williams, Redwood City, California, Carrie (Miller) Porter, Rancho Cucamonga, California, Erin Bannahan, Reno, Nevada, April (Hess) Townley, Reno, Nevada, and Joyce Nissley, Bainbridge, Pennsylvania. Betty's Family wishes to extend their gratitude to Dee Remington and the staff at Gracious Granny' s Assisted Living and the Verde Valley Community Hospice for the outstanding care and support during Betty's final days. Viewing Hours for friends and family will be Friday, November 8, 2013, 5pm to 7pm at Bueler Funeral Home in Cottonwood, Arizona. The address is 255 S. Sixth Street. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, on November 9, 2013, at Verde Baptist Church Chapel in Cottonwood, Arizona. The address is 104 S. Willard. Pastor Robb Williams, of Verde Baptist Church will officiate. Interment service at Cottonwood Cemetery, immediately following the funeral service at Verde Baptist Church and members will host a luncheon following the burial, at the fellowship hall at Verde Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to Verde Valley Community Hospice, 859 Cove Parkway, Ste. 103, Cottonwood, Arizona, 86326, or to Verde Baptist Church, 104 S. Willard, Cottonwood, Arizona , 86326.