Robert Perry Hawley

My Daddy, Robert P. Hawley

By Terry (Hawley) Canales

My favorite obituaries are those that tell a little about the person and the impact that they had on others’ lives. I hope that you will bear with me for a bit, while I tell you a little about my dad, the man who loved me and always sent me kisses over the phone each and every day! Whatever my dad did as I was growing up, I was right there with him. It may be shooting targets in the woods, ice or roller skating, which he was better at both than I was, splitting and stacking wood, or playing fox and hound in the backyard after a good snow, he and I were together. When I got my first motorcycle, I was a little nervous to show him, but he was just as excited as I was. Same held when I got my big game hunting license. He was a cool dad!!!

My dad was born and raised in Fly Creek, New York. For those of you who don’t know where Fly Creek is don’t worry, blink and you will have missed it. Fly Creek is near Cooperstown and from the stories I heard, is the place where my dad was on a first name basis with the local police...and not in a good way. Apparently, his shenanigans went way back to when he was a kid. His best friends in childhood all the way to adulthood were these gentlemen below, Bub and Hank. Together they had some stories! Dad also worked at the Fly Creek Cider Mill. If you ever find your way to Cooperstown, stop by there for the best cider!

Robert Perry Hawley, otherwise known as Bob or Bud, was the oldest son of Andrew and Ruth Hawley and one of six children. Unfortunately, all of dad’s brothers and sisters have passed with the exception of the one that was his surprise graduation present from high school! (Aunt Cheryl). Yep, his mom didn’t make it to his high school graduation because she was having a baby no one knew about. What a gift!

Dad graduated from Cooperstown High School and Delhi Agricultural, which is now SUNY Delhi in Delhi, NY. He majored in construction and carpentry. He then joined the US Army between 1952 and 1954 and became a Corporal in Germany. He always talked about going back to Germany, but unfortunately, he never did. When I got the chance, I took all the pictures I could to share with him, so it felt like he was there. He loved it!!!

Dad moved to Binghamton, NY after his time in the army to work for a construction company. He made many friends and one of them helped set my mom and dad up on a blind date. The date did not go so well as dad’s car driver’s seat broke and his friend had to hold it up from the back as they drove. On the date, dad also had an allergic reaction to my mom’s perfume. He also initially refused to call my mom for another date because he didn’t like his stutter on the phone, but she set him straight if he ever wanted to see her again and fortunately for me, he called! Mom and dad got married on April 19, 1958. As many of you may know, my dad had a little stutter; however, much like Mel Tillis, dad sang beautifully and without a single stutter. This past year, mom and dad celebrated 65 years of marriage, along with his 95th birthday and mom’s 90th! It was a big year!

Dad worked as a carpenter for many years and then went into estimating and project management with J&K Plumbing and Heating. While there he met a dear friend, Jim Lewis, and together they left J&K and started their own company. Many Saturdays my dad went into the office to do some work and many times I went with him. I loved going to the office with him, and every now and then he would let me help him with “take offs” on plans for a job that they were going to bid out. Perhaps that is what got me into engineering.

So, let’s step back a second. Nine years after they were married, I came into the picture. My parents told me that they had a wonderful life before 1967, but I beg to differ. How could your life be so great before I came along? By the way, the picture on the left contains me....in the tummy on their babymoon to the Bahamas!

In 2000 their life got even better when another little blonde girl named Kayla Noel Wyat was born. Now their lives were complete and boy, did he love being a Papa!!!

Life with dad was never boring. From cars pulling in with a deer carcass on the hood from a successful hunt to card parties, he was always smiling...even when he would agree to have his hair put in ponytails by a little girl who wanted to play. One of his greatest passions was deer hunting. He would go on weekends and every Thanksgiving. I still remember the smell of Hoppes gun cleaner as he would get them ready for the next day and I would help fill up his pockets with the necessities...TP, candy bars and little notes with pennies taped to them. Cause you always need pennies and dimes in the woods.

Mom and dad loved to travel. My favorite memories are our yearly vacations, especially to Wildwood, New Jersey. Dad and I would body surf in the ocean, fly kites, ride a tandem bike, and ride the log flume on the NJ Boardwalk. He never shied away from a good log flume and the wetter the better!

Even though my mom and dad had only one child, they were always running around from one sport or girl scout event to another. My dad never missed a swim meet, marching band competition, girl scout fly up, or track meet. It meant so much to me to see him in the stands.

When I decided to go away to school in Buffalo after Broome Community College, no one was prouder than my parents. My dad loved my weekends home, but he could never say goodbye when it was time for me to head back. Yep, if you haven’t guessed it by now, I was totally a daddy’s girl. My mom’s greatest concern was living with my dad alone again...see, I told you your life was not complete without me!

Mom and dad continued to travel around the US and go on cruises. Dad retired for the third and last time at the age of 70. He just had a hard time leaving the work behind. My parents moved down to North Carolina in 2001 after winters in Emerald Isle. I was excited about them coming to NC, but I was also nervous that they would be lonely after leaving their home that they had for 40 years and their friends. But in no time, they made new friends, joined the Angier Senior Citizens, where dad was Vice President, and joined a church. Over the next 22 years in NC, they have met some amazing and supportive friends that you can never replace. Dad missed NY as it will always be home, but I don’t think he missed the cold weather. He truly enjoyed his time at the beach.

A few years ago, I asked him what his favorite thing to do was and he said, “eating out”. He always loved to eat out to celebrate a big event, birthday, or anniversary. Dunkin Donuts was Mom and Dad’s way of celebrating life’s little accomplishments. He loved his sweets! In looking through pictures on my phone, most of them were him and Kayla sharing a dessert. He would always say he was full and then dive right into the Chocolate Molten Cake!

As Dad started to age, I asked God to let him see his only grandchild graduate from high school. God granted me that wish! I then asked for Dad to see her graduate from college, again, God granted me my wish! At almost 94 years old, he watched her graduate via the computer and stand tall for pictures. A very proud Papa.

Dad has many accomplishments throughout his life, and I am very proud of the man I called my Dad. He gave me so much love and support, and his smile lit up the room. I often prayed to God, thanking him for giving me to this lovely couple. I could not have asked for better parents. As I say goodbye on this earth to my dad, I look at his pictures now with happy memories, love, and smiles. I know I will see him again and it brings me joy. Dad, we LOVE YOU today and ALWAYS!!!

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice in Robert's name.