Jeff Hawley

Jeff Hawley

Jeff was born in Loveland Co. at 5:30 pm July 3,1970, to loving parents Butch and Barbara Hawley. Jeff was a lover of the outdoors and an adventurer. You could say he had a traveler’s soul. His family left Colorado for Alaska in 1980 and spent a short time in Homer before moving out to the bush on the Susitna River at Su’ Station. Where he had so many adventures and ran the river, as it was his back yard. He trapped, hunted and fished everywhere from Alexander river to Lake Creek and he knew the back slews better than the back of his hand also as he would say. Jeff loved snow machining and became an avid rider on the river. He knew exactly how to avoid the overflows and how to enjoy the sport. He has rescued many people from the river from being stuck in the overflow to being just cold and wet and out of gas. He traveled from Alaska to Maui and learned to surf. He also traveled by rail on the back off trains. Jumping from train to train all the way to California and back where he started. He spent time drilling deep-water wells in Arizona and Nevada before returning to Alaska in his mid-20’s. He was a very giving man and there wasn’t a day he would not give his last dime or the shirt off his back to help someone out. A person would have to be cautious when complementing on something Jeff owned because Jeff was sure that person would be leaving with that item. He always said you can’t take it with you and he had no attachment to material things. He was a great storyteller and had so much to tell about. We often encouraged him to write a book, but he said no one would ever read it. He inspired everyone especially his wife Diane to follow their dreams and never settle for less.

After meeting his soul mate Diane, it was love at first sight. He became an instant bonus dad of Diane’s four children all of whom were young adults. Within a year he became a grandfather and the grandkids kept coming one after another ending up with 7. There wasn’t a day he wasn’t bragging about them. He loved all of them so much. He would tell Courtney and Brittany they were such good mothers every time they spoke. This year was especially difficult for Jeff with his health. He was trying to find answers when he sat down one evening to watch the World Series and fell asleep. The lord answered his payers to have no more pain and to watch over his family.

He is survived and celebrated by his parents Butch and Barbara Hawley, sister Lisa Gravel, nephew Jay Gravel, Diane Hawley his wife, his family Devin McNulty (Brandy Larson), Courtney Wilson (Dennis Gregory), Brittany Holom (Patrick Holom), and Jaeson McNutly. His most treasured grandchildren will miss him greatly Jaede, Jennifer, Johnathan, Marilyn, Vivian, Owen and Journey.

A Memorial Service will be held; Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 1:00 at Legacy Wasilla Heritage Funeral Chapel Located at 1015 S Check St Wasilla, AK 99654

His family would love to have you come and share a story or two about Jeff, as he was an avid storyteller. If you can’t make it please remember him in your own way.