- Date Of Birth: March 10, 1932
- Date Of Death: March 8, 2003
- State: Indiana
Nancye Elizabeth Smith Hawes, 70, Anderson, died March 8, 2003 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Hospital, Carmel after an extended illness. She was born March 10, 1932 in Somerset, Kentucky, and resided in Anderson, Indiana. She lived in this area all of her life. An award-winning writer and editor, she retired as columnist and Sunday lifestyles editor of the Herald Bulletin in 1989. She had covered the local and state news scene since 1964 and was assistant managing editor for The Anderson Herald when the two Anderson papers merged in 1986. She was The Herald’s statehouse reporter and interviewed many state and national political figures including Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George Bush, Ronald Reagan and William Jefferson Clinton; first ladies Hillary Clinton, Pat Nixon and Rosalind Carter; first daughters Amy Carter, Linda Byrd Johnson and Julie Eisenhower; first brother Billy Carter; and several U.S. Senators including Ted Kennedy, Birch Bayh, Richard Lugar and Dan Quayle. She graduated from Anderson High School in 1950, she had earned continuing education credits from several journalism schools, including Indiana University and Ball State University. She was active in civic affairs for many years, she was a member of Central Christian Church in Anderson. She was a past president of Anderson Soroptimist International and the Chesterfield Booster Auxiliary. She was a Cub Scout den mother, a member of the Boy Scout district committee, a Pink Lady and had served as board member for the Madison County Association for Mental Health and the local Red Cross Chapter. She was a founding member of Planned Parenthood of Madison County, had been active in the Lady Elks, Anderson Council of Women and was a member of the YWCA, the Dolphin Club and Edgewood Country Club. A life member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, she was twice president of Gamma Iota Chapter and had served as president of the Anderson Beta Sigma Phi City Council. She was presently a member of the Zeta Masters Chapter. She received the Unknown Scout Award and was her sorority council’s woman of the Year. She had been a director of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. In addition, she was a board member for the National Federation of Press Women for 20 years and also served as Secretary and Vice President of NFPW. She was a past president of Women’s Press Club of Indiana and was a founder and long-time director of its Education Fund. She was past president of Indiana East Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists, and had belonged to the Indianapolis Press Club since 1967. East Central Indiana Chapter of Women in Communications named her Communicator of the Year in 1984. She had served with the Anderson University mentor program and was a member of AU’s Town and Gown. She is survived by her husband: George Jason Hawes, whom she married February 11, 1950; a daughter: Kimberly Ellen Hawes of Anderson. Two Sons: William Kevin Hawes wife Donna of Anderson and George Kelly Hawes wife Teri of Lake Jackson, Texas; Seven Grandchildren: Isaac Samuel Hawes of Anderson; Erin Colleen O’Brien of Silver Spring, MD; Jason Kelly Hawes of Lake Jackson, Texas; Christopher William Hawes, Michelle Lynn Hawes, Susan Marie Hawes and Mackenna Brianne Hawes, all of Anderson. Also surviving are her stepmother: Ada M. Smith of Anderson. Sister: Marjorie William Mann of Tallahassee, Florida. Two Brothers: Rev. Paul Tina Smith and Michael E. Connie Smith, both of Anderson. Stepsister: Roberta Rosenau of Shelton, Washington. Uncle: Lee Ginny Foster of Bradford, Ohio. Five Aunts: Opie Blakeman of Shadyside, MD, Helen Hanson and Alma Branson of Covington, OH, Anna Palmer of Troy, OH, and Ilene Ward of Piqua, OH; many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her her parents Ava Foster and William Henderson Smith, two brothers Samuel Edward and Edwin Swope Smith, a stepsister Janiece White and a stepbrother William Lee Fleener.
