Obituary of Clarence W. Hawk

In the midst of an active, fun and fulfilling life, Clarence "Babe" Hawk, 68, of Osage Beach, MO, was felled unexpectedly by an aortic aneurysm on October 8, 2009. Babe was "larger than life" to his family and friends and his generosity and caring support were second to none. He always knew the right thing to do in every situation, he was everyone's "safety net" and he relished being able to play this role. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed by the many who loved him and who will keep fond memories of him forever. Born August 24, 1941, to Edith and Meredith Hawk in Atchison, KS, he graduated from Atchison High School and recently attended his 50th reunion. In high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society, earned nine letters in sports and was in DeMolay. While attending Baker University, Babe played basketball, lettering all four years and receiving all conference honors his junior and senior years, and his record of 28 rebounds in a single game still stands. He was a proud member of the Baker University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. At Baker, he was an exemplary student-athlete, graduating in the top two percent of his class and named to the Dean's Honor Roll. He was in Boy Scouts, Eagle rank, and Warrior Tribe of Mic-O-Say (Warrior Little Bringer). He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves. Clarence earned a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1969 and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi international legal fraternity. He was admitted to the bar in Missouri and U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri in 1970 and to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma in 1979. He established The Hawk Law Firm in 1970. Clarence served as Prosecuting Attorney for Moniteau County, Missouri, 1970-1976. He has served as City Attorney for several communities and was presently serving as attorney for the Osage Beach Fire Protection District. He is a member of Camden County and American Bar Associations; The Missouri Bar; Missouri Trial Attorneys Association; and The Association of Trial Lawyers of American. His areas of practice include trial practice, personal injury, estate planning, business law, corporate law, criminal defense, real estate law and insurance defense. Clarence had a passion for his business activities and came by it naturally as his father was a small business entrepreneur, and Clarence was involved with him in a myriad of businesses. In addition to his thriving law practice, Clarence also was a licensed car dealer, travel agent, real estate broker, insurance broker, and he had owned several businesses including a title insurance company and several restaurants. He was an astute and very successful business man and was constantly looking for the next business opportunity that piqued his interest. Babe loved his work, insanely loved his cars, and loved all sports with his undisputed favorite being basketball, and he was a rabid fan of his beloved men's basketball team at the University of Kansas. Proudly garbed in his KU Jayhawk regalia, he attended many games every season and regularly followed the team into post-season play, going to and savoring every moment of several NCAA Final Four events, including being in San Antonio for "Mario's Miracle" in 2008. Babe also enjoyed skippering his boat, the "Rock Chalk Seahawk," around the Lake of the Ozarks. Clarence was preceded in death by his father, and his son, David. He is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, Carole of the home, his daughter Amy and her husband Jeff Gurley, son Chad and his wife April, grandchildren Caitlin and Caden, all of Osage Beach, MO; his 94-year mother, Edith, of Atchison, KS; brother Melvin and his wife Alice of Leawood, KS; brother Larry and his wife Marcia of Independence, MO; Galen and his wife Jamie of Topeka, KS; and sister Lois Snavely of Jefferson City, MO.