Verl Jack Hawes

Verl J. Hawes of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026, after 94 years of hard work, joy and happiness. He was born in Sterling, Idaho on January 13, 1932 to John Hawes, Jr. and Ethel Jane Lewis and was the eighth of 10 children.

After graduating high school in Aberdeen, Idaho, he joined the United States Air Force for four years and was a flight engineer on B-29 bombers and KC97 aircraft.

Verl then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years in western Canada.

On December 27, 1957 he married Janice Kirby Hawes from Aberdeen, Idaho in the Idaho Falls temple. They were married 69 years.

He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah with a bachelor’s degree in geography/math and master’s degree in education. He taught math in Fresno, California for seven years before returning to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, where he was a Marsh Valley School District teacher and principal at Lava Hot Springs Elementary School for 20 years.

Verl was a kind and loving husband, father and friend with a gift for loving others. He was a patient and bright teacher and loved spending time with his students, especially those struggling with math. He loved animals, BYU football, golfing, soaking in the hot springs with his Lava buddies and serving others. He also enjoyed singing in church choirs, and serving in many church positions, including Lava ward bishopric and stake mission leader in Fresno, California and Arimo, Idaho. He served faithfully for his long life.

Verl was a jokester, and his family and friends can hear him from on high now saying “I would have been 96, but I was sick for two years!”

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Ken, Larue, Lewis, Lamar, Merlin, Clair, Roger and sisters Neva and Veda.

He is survived by his wife Janice, son Mark Hawes (Leigh) and daughters Alyson Isaacs (Leonard) and Kimberly Reich (Bret); granddaughters London Hawes, Natalie Hawes and Madison Holdaway (Kevin); and a great grandson, Rhys Morgan Holdaway.

There will be a viewing on September 26, 2026 from 9:30am-10:45am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lava Hot Springs, 437 West Spring Street. Funeral services are from 11:00am-12:00pm, and a military rites graveside service from 12:30pm-1:00pm at the Lava Hot Springs cemetery. Feel free to wear red, white and blue to celebrate his love of America.

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