Jeanette Marie Hawley

Jeanette Marie Hawley, 90, of Gillette, Wyoming, passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on August 20, 2026, at Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center. Jeanette was born June 11, 1936, in Lead, South Dakota, to Ralph and Viola (Knodel) Williamson. She grew up under the wide skies of the Black Hills, graduating from Vale High School in 1954 before continuing her education at Black Hills Teacher's College in Spearfish, South Dakota. That education set the course for a life spent giving to others — Jeanette went on to spend several years as a teacher, shaping young minds with the same patience and warmth she brought to everything she touched. Those who knew Jeanette best remember a woman whose hands were rarely still. She found quiet joy in drawing and painting, in the careful stitches of crochet and needlepoint, and in the many small crafts that filled her days with color and meaning. She had a particular fondness for collecting rocks, each one perhaps a small reminder of the prairie by Vale she called home as a girl. But more than her hobbies, Jeanette will be remembered for her character — she was hard-working without complaint, patient without exception, and kind in a way that made people feel seen. When asked what she was proudest of, Jeanette did not point to accolades or achievements in the way the world measures them. She pointed to being a teacher, to being a mother, and to sharing the love of Christ with everyone she met. In the end, that was the whole of her life's work, and she did it well. Jeanette is survived by her husband of many years, George W. Hawley; her son, Steve (Marion) Hawley; her daughter, Darla (Fred Romanjenko) Hawley; her sisters, Marge Rodgers and Charlotte Helmer; 5 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren — a legacy that continues to grow, carrying forward the faith and love she so freely gave. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Viola Williamson; her sister, Etta Mae Brubaker; her infant son, Scott; and her brothers, David Williamson and Wesley Williamson. Funeral service for Jeanette Hawley will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 24, 2026 at Pine Lawn Memorial Park, Rapid City, SD with Bob Hower officiating. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com