Ann Hawley

Ann St. John Hawley died peacefully surrounded by her six adoring children at her home in Canon de Taos on Thursday, January 27th, 2011. She was an immensely loving and beautiful matriarch of the Hawley family and devoted to each her of children, grandchildren, and dear friends. She was wise and outrageous, deeply spiritual and privately mysterious as well as practical. Ann was born in Ancon in the Panama Canal Zone to Joseph Harold St. John M.D., a leading figure and pioneer in tropical medicine in the United States Army. Her mother, Helen Martindale St. John attended Van Der Bilt University and was an artist. Ann was raised in Washington D.C. and Lake Bluff, IL, where she and her children enjoyed the beach on Lake Michigan. She married Robert Lee Hawley, M.D. in 1945 and together they raised six children and moved from Denver, CO to Taos in 1975. Ann and Bob were married for 34 years until his death in 1993. Ann, a colleratura, and Robert, a tenor, were opera singers in New Orleans in the late 1950's with the New Orleans City Opera. Ann received her BS degree in Theatre Arts from Northwestern University and her MFA in Painting at Denver University. Ann was inspired by Einstein's theory of the entropy of the universe, Japanese and Chinese art, spiritual art, abstract expressionism and nature. Ann expressed herself in numerous media including drawings of nudes, Sumi ink, landscapes, lithography, photography, woodcarving, writing and dance. including butoh performance art in collaboration with Yolanda Viola in a book titled "Saint". A film titled "Woman as Butterfly" and Butoh Photographs by Kathleen Brennan and a book titled "Saint" with butoh photographs by Yolana Viola. Her oil and acrylic painting, etching, some watercolors and drawings are signed with her nick-name "Saint", Ann St. John and Ann St. John Hawley. Some watercolors are signed "Bebe", her childhood name. She has said that her art is "an expression of her philosophy of disintegration, my love of Japanese Butoh Dance and my search for the Divine." Her works are part of the permanent collection at the Harwood Museum in Taos, NM, Gallery 203 in Taos and The Box in Santa Fe. Her pieces are in Europe and Asia. She is preceded in death by the late Dr. Robert Lee Hawley, who practiced medicine in Taos from 1975-1993, Amos Browning, and Anthony Concha. She is survived by her brothers Dr. Richard St. John and Mary Lee St. John of Bradenton Beach, FL, Dr. Harold St. John and Nyla St. John of Jacksonville, FL, sister Marie Magin and the late George Magin of Harpers Ferry, WV, sons Robert Lee Hawley II and Julie Hawley of Taos, NM, Richard St. John Hawley and Lydia Tupper" Hawley of Carson, NM, daughters Michele Hawley and partner Dr, Joy Allesdatter of San Juan, NM, Helena Melisande Hawley-Grano of Trinidad, CO; Margaretina Natalie Hawley Hahn and George Arthur "Fritz" Hahn of Taos, Sylvia Hawley-Gutierrez and Robert Gutierrez of Trujillo, NM. Grandchildren include Myles Joseph Browning and Amy Romero Browning, Julian Bach Smith and Liane Pellegrini, Alfred A. Smith, Francis Hahn and Laura Hahn, Lawrence Hahn and Yahti Hahn, Isahbo Hawley, Tara Brinduse, and Mario Pardo Friedman, Sammy Ann Hawley and friend Josh, Chrystalynn Concha Leon and Ryan Leon, Jubilee Hawley and friend Richade Smith, Lily Hawley, and most special friend Leann Pelligrino. Ann had numerous great grandchildren. Her family will miss Ann's beauty, grace and boundless love. Funeral mass was held on January 31, 2011 at San Francisco de Asis Church. Reception followed at San Geronimo Lodge.