Obituary for Irma Jean Caughell
Irma Jean (Hawkins) Caughell was born to Floyd and Irma Hawkins on Aug 10, 1936 in Dallas, Texas.
She was a beloved matriarch whose fortitude and distinct heart for service and ministry, belied her love of life, family and limitless appetite for international culture. She entered the gates of Heaven on Friday morning, September 9, 2022 with family by her side.
Jean married William Caughell in August of 1954 and they had 3 children: Steven, Wayne and Kristi. She was dedicated to and survived by her large and loving family of 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Son Steven and wife Liliana Caughell; Granddaughter Deanna and Husband Pete Bamford; Great Grandsons Joshua Bamford and Jason Bamford, and Great Granddaughter Jasmine Bamford; Granddaughter Stephanie and wife Terri Fisher; Great Granddaughter Harper Fisher and Great Grandson Gavin Fisher; Granddaughter Rainbow Dawn Lincoln and Great Granddaughter Noel Leslie; Granddaughter Sarah and husband Jon Bender; Great Grandson Wyatt Bender, and Great Granddaughters Jessa Bender, Ella Bender and Ensley Bender; Granddaughter Gina and husband Vinnie Manaois; Great Grandsons Mason Manaois and Max Manaois, and Great Granddaughter Mia Manaois. Son R. Wayne Caughell; Grandsons Nathan Caughell, Robert Caughell, Bryan Caughell and Jerod Caughell. Daughter Kristi and husband Thomas Saecker; Grandsons Eric Saecker, Jacob Saecker and Benjamin Saecker; Younger brother Wayne and wife Olga Hawkins; Older sister Carol Creighton and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Irma Hawkins, foster Brother Tony Guzman, and Grandson Eric Saecker.
To others she was known as Jeanie Hawkins, Jeanie, Miss Irma, Carmen Miranda, Hermanita, Mom, Nana, Nana Piano. She was a daughter, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a piano teacher, a harpist, a translator, a book editor. She went to Fresno City College and ended up spending 30 years traveling the globe with Occidental Petroleum Corporation as the Executive Secretary to the President of Latin American Operations. In addition to her work with Oxy, she took advantage of multiple opportunities to do missionary work as that was equally as important to her. She spent most of her time working, translating for Spanish speaking communities for legal documents and important matters, and supporting Marsh Children's Home in Acapulco Mexico, which was started with the help of her missionary parents and is still open and serving children today! She was known and loved in almost every continent of the world. Her travels included Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Pakistan, Oman, Thailand, Rome, Spain, Iran and Peru just to name a few.
Her leisurely passions always included family and music. Her natural abilities were incredible, and she was exceedingly grateful to use her gifts as much as possible to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her piano and harpist talents. She was an avid supporter of The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and anything that had to do with local arts and music. She was so proud of the accompanist service that she and her daughter and best friend, Kristi, were well known for in Bakersfield called “Adagio” where they were hired to play piano, harp, and flute for many weddings and special events. Their sound was slow and beautiful.
Jean was an incredible human and lover of the Lord. She taught her family who Jesus was and anyone who knew her felt the Holy Spirit. She was kind, generous, loyal and people who knew her truly loved her. In a world where it is more important to shut out and turn away people who are different in culture and language and life, it was equally important for her to embrace them, listen to them, advocate for them and most of all love them. That is the language she taught us, That is her legacy. It was one of music, language, love and Jesus. She will be truly missed and we are all incredibly blessed to have been taught by her and loved by her.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at:
Valley Baptist Church-Olive Dr. Campus
5500 Olive Drive
Friday, October 21, at 3pm. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to: Marsh Children’s Home or The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Donations will be accepted at her ceremony of life as well.
https://marshchildrenshome.org.mx
https://www.bsonow.org
She was a beloved matriarch whose fortitude and distinct heart for service and ministry, belied her love of life, family and limitless appetite for international culture. She entered the gates of Heaven on Friday morning, September 9, 2022 with family by her side.
Jean married William Caughell in August of 1954 and they had 3 children: Steven, Wayne and Kristi. She was dedicated to and survived by her large and loving family of 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Son Steven and wife Liliana Caughell; Granddaughter Deanna and Husband Pete Bamford; Great Grandsons Joshua Bamford and Jason Bamford, and Great Granddaughter Jasmine Bamford; Granddaughter Stephanie and wife Terri Fisher; Great Granddaughter Harper Fisher and Great Grandson Gavin Fisher; Granddaughter Rainbow Dawn Lincoln and Great Granddaughter Noel Leslie; Granddaughter Sarah and husband Jon Bender; Great Grandson Wyatt Bender, and Great Granddaughters Jessa Bender, Ella Bender and Ensley Bender; Granddaughter Gina and husband Vinnie Manaois; Great Grandsons Mason Manaois and Max Manaois, and Great Granddaughter Mia Manaois. Son R. Wayne Caughell; Grandsons Nathan Caughell, Robert Caughell, Bryan Caughell and Jerod Caughell. Daughter Kristi and husband Thomas Saecker; Grandsons Eric Saecker, Jacob Saecker and Benjamin Saecker; Younger brother Wayne and wife Olga Hawkins; Older sister Carol Creighton and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Irma Hawkins, foster Brother Tony Guzman, and Grandson Eric Saecker.
To others she was known as Jeanie Hawkins, Jeanie, Miss Irma, Carmen Miranda, Hermanita, Mom, Nana, Nana Piano. She was a daughter, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a piano teacher, a harpist, a translator, a book editor. She went to Fresno City College and ended up spending 30 years traveling the globe with Occidental Petroleum Corporation as the Executive Secretary to the President of Latin American Operations. In addition to her work with Oxy, she took advantage of multiple opportunities to do missionary work as that was equally as important to her. She spent most of her time working, translating for Spanish speaking communities for legal documents and important matters, and supporting Marsh Children's Home in Acapulco Mexico, which was started with the help of her missionary parents and is still open and serving children today! She was known and loved in almost every continent of the world. Her travels included Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Pakistan, Oman, Thailand, Rome, Spain, Iran and Peru just to name a few.
Her leisurely passions always included family and music. Her natural abilities were incredible, and she was exceedingly grateful to use her gifts as much as possible to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her piano and harpist talents. She was an avid supporter of The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and anything that had to do with local arts and music. She was so proud of the accompanist service that she and her daughter and best friend, Kristi, were well known for in Bakersfield called “Adagio” where they were hired to play piano, harp, and flute for many weddings and special events. Their sound was slow and beautiful.
Jean was an incredible human and lover of the Lord. She taught her family who Jesus was and anyone who knew her felt the Holy Spirit. She was kind, generous, loyal and people who knew her truly loved her. In a world where it is more important to shut out and turn away people who are different in culture and language and life, it was equally important for her to embrace them, listen to them, advocate for them and most of all love them. That is the language she taught us, That is her legacy. It was one of music, language, love and Jesus. She will be truly missed and we are all incredibly blessed to have been taught by her and loved by her.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at:
Valley Baptist Church-Olive Dr. Campus
5500 Olive Drive
Friday, October 21, at 3pm. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to: Marsh Children’s Home or The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Donations will be accepted at her ceremony of life as well.
https://marshchildrenshome.org.mx
https://www.bsonow.org