Source: http://www.hixsonbrothers.com/index.cfm

Richard Gale Hawthorne
(September 2, 1938 - December 28, 2010)

Richard Gale Hawthorne, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away at Rapides Regional Medical Center surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. He was 72 years old.

Graveside services for Richard Gale Hawthorne will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 30 at Greenwood Memorial in Pineville under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home with Reverend Cliff Stewart and Rabbi Arnold Task officiating.

Mr. Hawthorne, a lifetime resident of Pineville, was born September 2, 1938 in Alexandria, LA. He was a Pineville High School graduate and attended Louisiana College. He also served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War as a military policeman where he was stationed at the Strategic Air Command in Texas and Louisiana. After he was honorably discharged, he had a career in automotive parts sales and co-owned Hawthorne Auto Parts and owned Richard's Auto Parts.

But most important in his life was his family. Mr. Hawthorne was married to the love of his life, Kathryn Chudej Hawthorne, for 54 years. Together, they had four daughters, Melinda Worsham (Alan), Tracey Blackwell (Steve), Christina LaFleur (Ross) and Charla Ducote (Rick), eight grandchildren, Desiree, J. J., Brittany, Noel, Trey, Kathryn, Madeline and Sarah and one great grandchild, Isabelle. Also, he had a special uncle Bobby Ray Hawthorne.

Mr. Hawthorne was preceded in death by his father Alvin Hawthorne, his paternal grandmother who raised him Etta M. Hawthorne, special uncles Wallace Hawthorne, J.P. Hawthorne, Lloyd Hawthorne and Andrew Hawthorne, and an infant granddaughter, Blair Elizabeth.

Mr. Hawthorne lived life to the fullest. He never met a stranger and had a gift to make everyone feel special. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and traveling. He was also a pilot and loved to fly. He taught his daughters the importance of family, laughter, adventure and confidence and was proud of each of their accomplishments. He loved animals, especially his favorite pet Nippy.

Pallbearers will be Alan Worsham, Steve Blackwell, Ross LaFleur, Rick Ducote, James Green, Jr., Randy Hawthorne, Cody St. Andre and Robert Smith. Honorary pallbearer will be his grandson Trey Ducote.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to the nurses and physicians at Rapides Regional, specifically Drs. Ardoin, Garcia, Lowentritt and Pearce, as well as the ICU and 4 South Staff.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Cure JM Foundation, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, (autoimmune disease), 836 Lynwood Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024, http://www.curejm.com/team/donations.htm, an organization close to the family's heart.