Marie Agnes (Amerson) Hawley, daughter of Clarence and Gunda (Granberg) Amerson, was born November 21, 1918, in Hamlin County, South Dakota. She spent her early years and received her education in rural school in Hamlin County and graduated from Estelline High School in 1937. She married Toivo Erickson on October 22, 1942, in Gilroy, California and he died on January 22, 1954, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Marie was united in marriage to Eugene Hawley on December 22, 1954, in Estelline. After their marriage they farmed near Estelline until Eugene's death on July 1, 1995. She continued to live on the farm. Marie suffered a stroke in 2006 and continued to live on the farm with her son Paul until entering the Estelline Nursing and Care Center in December of 2008. She died there on Saturday, August 15, 2009, at the age of 90 years, 8 months and 24 days.
She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Estelline and also the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed sewing and cooking.
Grateful for having shared her life are four sons, Alan Hawley and his wife JoAnn of Brookings, Robert Hawley and his wife Connie of Zumbrota, MN, Roger Hawley of Scandia, MN, Paul Hawley of Estelline; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren; one brother, Richard "Terry" Amerson and his wife Marie of Washington; four sisters, Elaine Lewis of Minnesota, Mavis Voigt and her husband Robert of Minneapolis, MN, Jean Brookins and her husband Carl of St. Paul, MN, Clarice Goodroad of Watertown, SD; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Marie was preceded in death by her two husbands, one daughter Judy in 1985, one brother Robert Amerson, one daughter-in-law, Julie (Roger) Hawley,five brothers-in-law, Lyle Hawley, Clyde Archer, Jim Saathoff, James Lewis and Glen Goodroad, and one sister-in-law, Nancy Amerson.