Deborah Ray Hawkins
12/04/1981 – 04/14/2026
Deborah Ray Hawkins, 44, passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Austin, TX. Born on December 4, 1981, in Brownsville, TX, Deborah spent most of her life in Austin. She graduated from Connally High School and earned two degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional career included HEB, Yahoo, HomeAway, and Expedia.
Deborah was a generous and giving person. She quietly supported several charities, especially the Foundation for Women’s Cancer. She did much reading and research on endometrial cancer, the dreadful disease that took her life.
She is survived by her loving husband, Sean Hawkins; her parents, Olga Rowehl and Ray Rowehl; her sisters, Jill Macko (Peter) and Pamela Cantú; her nephew, Luke Macko; and many others in the Hawkins, Rowehl and Cantú families. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
The family extends their heartfelt thanks to their friends for their thoughts and prayers, and to Hospice Austin for their compassionate care. In keeping with Deborah’s wishes, she will be cremated under the care of Cook-Walden Funeral Home. A private family service will be held, followed by a Celebration of Life in Brownsville, Texas, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer.
Published by Austin American-Statesman from Apr. 17 to Apr. 19, 2026.
This obituary was published by Cook-Walden Funeral Home.
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