H. Ronald Hawksley

Detective Captain (retired) H. Ronald Hawksley, 80, of West Kingston, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2012. He was the beloved husband of Nancy (Weisman) Hawksley. He is survived by his children Pamella Jeffrey, Craig Hawksley, Becky Perkins, Robert Hawksley, Todd Hawksley, Sarah Schofield and Susan Alling, his brother Robert Hawksley, twelve grandchildren and a great grandchild. He was predeceased by his sons Ronald Hawksley and David Alling. He was the son of Harry Hawksley, a State Representative, and Marion (Swanton) Hawksley. His uncle Ray Hawksley had been General Treasurer of the State of RI. As a child, he lived in Cranston RI and moved to Exeter with his family during his youth, where he and his brother cared for their family’s dairy farm and often rode to school on horseback. As a teenager he raced stock cars in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, eventually driving for Ford Motor Company as a charter member of NASCAR. In 1954 he joined the South Kingstown RI Police Department as a patrolman, working his way up through the ranks to Detective Captain and Acting Chief. He was the lead investigator regarding the disappearance of Jason Foreman. He worked with the RI State Police and the FBI on various task forces throughout his career. Capt. Hawksley enjoyed travelling with his wife to NASCAR races at speedways in Louden NH, Daytona FL, Dover DE, Las Vegas NV, Charlotte NC, and Bristol TN. He loved to travel and thoroughly enjoyed driving aimlessly along the back roads throughout New England. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, the South Kingstown Elks, RI Criminalist Associates, the American Legion and the Wickford Club. The funeral will be held Friday September 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield. Burial will be in New Fernwood Cemetery, Kingston. Visiting hours Thursday 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to SKPD Benevolent Fund, 1790 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield, RI 02879.