McCandless

Jacquelyn Gay McCandless, 74, of Culver City, Calif., formerly of Butler, passed away Feb. 28, 2011.

She was born on June 22, 1936, in Butler to the late Eva Lucille McCandless and Lamont Morton McCandless.

Her father was co-founder and co-owner of Craftsman-Ziegler, Western Pennsylvania’s largest printing company.

Jacquelyn graduated from Mount Aloysius College in 1958, and she received her medical technologist’s license from Monte Fiore Medical School in 1960. In 1962, she joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Morocco.

She later became a makeup artist and sold Max Factor products at various U.S. military installations in Germany. She met her husband, Ross Hawkins, a former Air Force sergeant and independent contractor in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1968. They were married in Basel, Switzerland, and lived in Wiesbaden where she gave birth to twin sons, Brian and Lee Hawkins.

Jacquelyn and Ross returned to the U.S. in 1970 and moved to Palms, Calif. In 1986, they settled in their present home in Culver City, Calif.

Jackie went to work at Brotman Hospital in December 1970 as a medical technologist. Jackie worked for Brotman Hospital for more than 41 years until her sudden passing.

Jackie was a warm and caring person who was always available to help family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. If someone was in need, they could always go to Jackie. Her Brotman coworkers endearingly referred to her as “Mama Jackie.”

Jackie’s activities and interests were always family and people-centered. She enjoyed people and always made time for others. Jackie and Ross took up square-dancing and were members of the Heels and Soles for several years. She enjoyed going to local garage sales, hunting for hidden treasures and surprising family and friends with a special gift she had found just for them. True to her adventurous spirit, she was always interested in trying new restaurants and was never one to turn down anything chocolate.

Jacquelyn was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her love was expressed through her enduring concern and action for others. Her grace, kindness and warmth were felt by all who knew her.

Jacquelyn was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Kenneth Lamont McCandless, Evalyn Lukavich and Ellen Diel.

She is survived by her husband, Ross Hawkins; her sons, Brian and Lee Hawkins; her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Hawkins; her grandson, Sean Hawkins, and her siblings, Barbara McCandless, Judith McCandless, Gretchen Amado, David McCandless, Karen McCandless, Mary Bouchner and Patricia McCandless.

McCandless — A committal service for Jacquelyn Gay McCandless, who passed away Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Chapel of Calvary Cemetery in Butler. Inurnment will follow.Local arrangements are by the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.geibelfuneralhome.com.