Helen M. Hawkins, 87, of Hayesville passed away, Saturday, November 19, 2011 in Murphy Medical Center. She was a native of Cherokee County. She had been a telephone operator for over 30 years with the local telephone company before retiring in 1986. She was a member of Murphy First Baptist Church.

She was the daughter of the late Edward C. and Ethel Gladson Hawkins. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Bonnie Ruth Hawkins.

Surviving are a sister, Mildred Hughes of Murphy; a half-sister, Donna Truelove and husband, Charles of Atlanta, GA; a half-brother, Bill Hawkins and wife, Ruth of Murphy; two nephews, Dr. Russell Hughes and wife, Lisa of Hayesville, and Eddie Hughes and wife, Cissie of Greenville, SC; and great nieces Meghan, Emily, and Meredith Hughes, and great nephews, Jared and Chip Hughes.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, November 23 in the Chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with Rev. Troy Long officiating. Interment was held in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Eddie Worley, George Postell, Franklin Barnett, and Dennis Curtis.

The family received friends from 1:30-2:45 Wednesday afternoon at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

The family requests memorials be made in loving memory of Helen M. Hawkins to the Gideons International, PO Box 164, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.