Louise Elece Hawthorne

Louise Elece Hawthorne passed away at 9:17 AM on Monday, May 9 at the age of 91. Louise was born to Frank Cornelius McCumber and Florence Edna (Helm) McCumber on November 18, 1924, in Camargo Township, Illinois. Louise was the fifth-born child, and grew up as a farmer's daughter in Atwood, Illinois. She is a 1942 graduate of Atwood Township High School. In 1949 she graduated from Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College in Charleston, Illinois, as an elementary education teacher. She married George William Hawthorne on a blustery winter day in Camargo on December 23, 1951. Known for her love of family, our country, and teaching, Louise spent 35 years as an elementary education teacher in Newman, Broadlands, Villa Grove, Philo, Sidney, and Ottawa, Illinois. At the age of 18, while in college, she began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse, with students ranging from K-12. One student was a year older than she was! She loved teaching, and she loved her students. One of her favorite stories was about the district school psychologist who told parents, "Louise could teach a fencepost to read!" Louise was loved by her family and hundreds of students-she will be greatly missed. Louise loved her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and enjoyed attending Bible studies when possible. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Don, Dwight, Robert, Raymond, and Dean McCumber. Louise leaves behind George, her husband of 64 years, and their three sons: Kent, Kirk, and Kim Hawthorne, as well as four grandchildren: Sara Hawthorne (Kent's child), and Ki, Erin, and Amy Grace Hawthorne (Kim's children). A Celebration of Life service will be held at Meadowbrook Community Church, 1902 South Duncan Road in Champaign, Illinois on Saturday, May 14. Visitation with the family will be from 11 AM to 1 PM. The service begins at 1 PM. A graveside service will follow at the Camargo Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Louise's memory to Spring Canyon Christian Retreat and Conference Center (www.springcanyon.org) at PO Box 2047, Buena Vista, Colorado, 81211. Please join Louise's family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.