NORWICH – A resident of Lillian, AL following his retirement in 1990, Gordon G. Hawley of 2146 Club House Drive, passed away Feb. 4, 2013. He was born Aug. 23, 1929, the son of Rev. Gordon and Clistia Hawley. He grew up in a number of small communities in upstate New York where his father pastored a number of Methodist churches. While his father served as U.S. Army Chaplain during World War II, Gordon and his mother lived in Norwich, where he continued to live and work following his marriage to Louise Mills in June 1951.
He is a graduate of Norwich High School and Rochester Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in photography. He joined Norwich Eaton Pharmaceutical Company, where he held several office positions, also doing photographic work for the company. He later became the official company photographer as a member of their Graphic Arts Department.
Gordon was extremely active within the Norwich community, including the Chenango County Historical Society, where he printed and archived their large collection of glass plate negatives, the Norwich Lions Club where he served in a number of offices including King Lion, Guiding Lion for the Bainbridge club, the Lions Speech and Hearing Clinic at Spencer, Troop 62 Boy Scouts and Broad Street United Methodist Church. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was noted, especially following retirement, for his gardening expertise.
The Hawleys traveled extensively in retirement, through the United States, across Canada and to Alaska in a motor home, as well as several trips to Europe, much of it related to family genealogy in which he had a keen interest.
He is survived by his wife Louise, son Richard and his wife Terri of Myrtle Beach, three grandchildren, Jennifer Hawley Price, Tim Hawley, and Jill Hawley, and by great granddaughter Taylor Hawley.
A memorial service conducted by Rev. Glenn Butler, pastor of the Gulf Shores United Methodist Church, will be held at Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley, AL at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Chenango County Historical Society, 45 Rexford Street, Norwich, NY 13815 or to Covenant Hospice, 8383 North Davis Street, Pensacola, FL 32514.
Funeral arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home.