Austin Waverly Hawks

Austin W. Hawks, son of the late Alva A. Hawks and Elsa (Phillips) Hawks Ullman, passed away in his sleep at Shaw Mountain Cascadia Rehabilitation/Nursing Home. A native of Ada County, but long a resident of Twin Falls, his death followed months trying to recover health and mobility after two major surgeries in 2023 (abdominal) and 2024 (fractured hip). Born to an Eagle dairy farmer, Austin was firstborn son and spent his earliest years playing the role of “Dad’s shadow” making the rounds of dairy cows in barn and pasture, collecting eggs, snacking direct from the garden plot, romping with family dogs “Paddy” and “Jack” and deploying creative toy flotation craft in the Farmers Union Canal behind the barn. He was also “junior mentor” to two younger siblings whose arrivals followed close on the heels of his own.  An idyllic country childhood was interrupted when his father Alva died from a sudden heart attack.  Austin had been learning the calendar and had flipped pages from September to October 1955 before bedtime, the night his dad died. He remembered the date profoundly.

The family farm was sold; and Mom plus kids moved to Boise where she reclaimed a job she’d worked before marrying and leaning into “farm life.”  What their block in Boise’s “near North End” lacked in acres, it made up for with an incredible population of playmates. Neighbors directly across the street -- Rev. Walter Luttman, pastor of nearby St. Paul Lutheran Church, and his wife Millie – boasted a baseball team-sized brood of 9, the epicenter of a Baby Boom Block. Austin attended all 8 grades of St. Mary’s Catholic elementary and Bishop Kelly High School through his junior year in 1967.  His mother remarried in March 1967, and his family moved to Twin Falls in the final quarter of the academic year.

Austin had wanted to attend seminary for the priesthood out of 8th grade, enrolling with two other classmates who departed for Mt. Angel Abby in Oregon, but he didn’t feel free to abandon his chore list in a single-parent household.  That problem was solved by his widowed mother’s remarriage.   He entered Mt. Angel Seminary High School in Oregon for senior year of high school and graduated from its College in 1972, with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology, as a seminarian sponsored by Diocese of Boise.  He traveled abroad in his junior year with his class and one highlight for the “Brady Bunch” family at home in Twin Falls was Austin’s phone call from Bethlehem on Christmas Eve 1970.

Austin delighted in trying to convince his family that the religious Abbey in a tiny town was a “happening place” after Duke Ellington’s orchestra performed on campus, as a favor to Ann Henry.  Ann became a special friend to Austin, and a favorite personality among other seminarians, for her empathy and charisma.  She had been a rising star as vocalist and dancer on Broadway when stricken by spinal meningitis.  She struggled back to mobility, but never regained the ability to walk unassisted nor dance again.  She found a “home” at the Abbey, working with its choir of seminarians, composing music and working in the library.  An old movie of the performance was located and recently uploaded to YouTube.  A family visit to Austin at Shaw Mountain Rehabilitation/Nursing Care found him mesmerized by the YouTube replay of a memorable evening of entertainment long ago. And an amiable chat followed, about how unchosen challenges which confront our lives are the true measure of human value, as we move forward in adapting around or despite them.

Austin enrolled in Fall of 1972 in the Master’s degree program for seminarians at Catholic University of America’s Theological College in Washington, D.C. He experienced the wondrous breadth of the USA from Boise to D.C., by driving I-80, then I-70, to reach his graduate school.  He quipped: “I never knew how massive rows of corn can make you seasick!” The rolling hills of Iowa roadway added to the effect.

While in his second year of post-graduate studies at Catholic University, Austin suffered a psychotic episode and was diagnosed with the “disease of young adulthood” – schizophrenia.  The challenges posed by mental illness, and its management, shaped the mountains and valleys of his life for over 50 years.  He returned to Idaho in 1974 to live at home, under the care of Dr. Ben Briggs, a gifted psychiatrist whose expertise helped Austin and educated the rest of the family, too. After finding Rx that worked from a confusing pharmacopeia of choices, Austin re-charted career plans and rebounded. He finished up incomplete class credits at St. John’s College in Collegeville, Minnesota and then returned to Washington, D.C. to attend Catholic University of America’s Master’s of Library Science program.

After graduating with an M.L.S. degree in 1981, Austin began a career path as a Librarian with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.  He moved to positions of increasing responsibility over the next decade.   He enjoyed life in the nation’s capital, sharing a townhouse on the Potomac in Alexandria, Virginia with two compatible career-minded housemates. He played sleuth locating old classmates who’d left the vocational track and done other things, including a visit to New York City where good college friend Peter Meyer had become a published author and News Editor for Life magazine. A history buff, Austin spent weekends venturing to historic places as a favorite past-time with special attention to New England towns and shorter drives into Virginia.

Sadly, the steady years of career and life enjoyment did not last indefinitely. A death in the family may have triggered childhood trauma from 1955, and Austin suffered a serious decompensation, went “missing persons” for brief periods, with siblings turning “sleuth” and successfully locating him after frantic searching.   He eventually returned to Idaho for good.  Once safe in the structured environment of small caring group homes (Vonda’s and Julie’s) Austin thrived beyond expectations.  He became Librarian at St. Edward’s Catholic K-8 in Twin Falls, and tutored reading for Grades 2-4.  He enjoyed friendships, self-improvement classes and board games at the Community Center in downtown.

Austin worked past classic retirement age until he was 68, motivated by love of library work and tutoring youngsters and knowing his life had value. In his final year, the St. Ed’s school yearbook had a dedication page recognizing him.  Despite cardiac, abdominal and orthopedic surgeries in his final 5 years, he never despaired. He kept pushing forward with life, with “No Quit” determination.

He chuckled at the creative nickname that a brother invented for a rare club – the “Family Artery Augmentation Society” -- after one memorable year when the three guys in our “Brady Bunch” merged family all underwent cardiac procedures.

Until Austin’s physical health limited travel, he enjoyed family holidays spent in Boise and up in Ketchum.  In 2017, accompanied by Julie, Austin made his last “long plane trip” traveling from Idaho to New York & New Jersey to be special guest as Uncle/Godfather at the wedding and reception for his oldest nephew Joseph, with a full week of family tourism activities in NYC for Broadway play and dining out, with visits to historic Revolutionary War encampments in central & northern NJ.

As the first of a “Brady Bunch” group of seven siblings to pass away, Austin’s extensive family of survivors includes brother James (Joy) Hawks of Keyport, WA; sister Paula (Frank) DeLuca (Boise, ID), stepsisters Jayleen (John) Tillman (Boise), Bonnie Antoncich (Monroe, WA), Patricia Ullman (Boise), and stepbrother Robert Ullman (Kent, WA).  Austin’s nephews and nieces (and their spouses):  Joseph (Shawna), Elia (James), Cissy (Charlie) and Alex (Alejandra) DeLuca; Caitlin (Devin) and Emily Hawks; Casey (Heather), Christa (Andrew) and Kelly (Caitlin) Antoncich;  Christopher (Maire) Tillman and Nicholas (Erin) Tillman;  Tyler (Brittany), Leah (Kevin) and Ryan (Madeline) Rourke.  Also surviving Austin are three “greats”:  great niece Isla, great nephew Grey (California), and newest arrival Milly Frances (New York City); and numerous offspring of his three stepsisters’ children.

May Austin’s arrival in the profound divine unknown that awaits us all have found him connecting with his adored dad Alva, and loving mother Elsa who lit his path when it darkened with uncertainty, and stepfather Bob whose gentle soul infused family life with love.  May a “divine chorus” have greeted him with the lowing of cows signaling that it’s milking time.  As Mom explained death and heaven to tots aged 5, 4 and 18 months: “Daddy went to a bigger acreage. We need to be patient, and give him time to build a new farmhouse and barn. Then we’ll live together again.”