Joseph Hawes

Joseph Hawes

Feb. 24, 1965 - June 20, 2023

Beloved father, husband, son, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, Joseph "Joe" Hawes passed away June 20, 2023. He died of a sudden illness while at his vacation home in Baja California, Mexico.

His loss is deeply felt by his wife, Peggy Sue Hawes; children, Kimber Hawes Carlisle, Max Hawes, Aden Hawes, and Bradley Hawes; son-in-law, Andy Carlisle; grandson, Asher Ray Carlisle; stepchildren, Colton Kalmar and Ava Kalmar; mother, Jinx Klein; brother, George Hawes; and step-siblings, Matt Klein, Kathleen Klein, Eileen White, and Lisa Miller.

Born Feb. 24, 1965, in Astoria, Ore., Joe grew up in Bend and Eugene, attending South Eugene High School. He played varsity soccer in high school and at the University of Portland. Joe earned a degree in Finance and a secondary in Management from the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon in 1988. He received his MBA from Lundquist College in 1994. He served on the college's board of advisors from 2017 until his passing.

A fierce competitor and risk taker in business and sports, he was an avid skier, surfer, and adventurer, enjoying these activities with family and friends. Despite his incredible work ethic and discipline, he knew how to embrace life and let himself be free.

Joe was the founder and owner of Hawes Group, a management company that oversees several businesses offering specialized software and solution options for the accounts receivable industry. Joe got his start in business working for the family enterprise, Professional Credit Services (PCS), owned by his mother and late stepfather, Jinx and Ray Klein. As a teenager, he learned the business from the ground up and began work as a collector after graduating from college.

His focus, determination, education, and ability to successfully network resulted in his quickly taking over the management reins. He was in large part responsible for the massive growth of PCS, which became, and still is today, one of the largest collection agencies in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years he founded and grew multiple businesses, including Health First Financial (AccessOne), Hero Business Services (Ensource), KG Hawes, McKenzie Credit Group, and Hawes Ventures real estate. In recent years, Joe delved into real estate investment, including developing safe housing for adults in recovery, while also supporting start-up businesses throughout the Northwest.

Joe was a man with big ideas and the drive to make them happen. To work colleagues and employees, Joe was a passionate, altruistic, and visionary leader. To those he invested in, Joe was a benevolent and involved mentor. He was a huge supporter of students and fledging entrepreneurs. Joe believed in giving back to his community. He supported causes that reflect his values through donations and/or sponsorship of fundraising events. Among these were St. John's Foundation (PeaceHealth), Evergreen Health Foundation, Samaritan Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, St. Charles Foundation, Eugene YMCA, Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), Food for Lane County, and Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon.

To his family and friends, Joe was larger than life. He liked to ride the craziest rides at the fairs, and his kids remember white-knuckle roller-coaster rides with their dad laughing and screaming all the while. He often took novel approaches to mundane problems, like playing a bugle every morning to wake up his sleepy teenage kids. Our fond memories include philosophical discussions about the meaning of life and how we should live while we are on this planet.

Joe cherished time with his family and the feeling was mutual. We dearly miss his passionate presence. And will always remember his big heart, generous spirit, words, and acts of love.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 20, 2023, at 2 p.m. in Eugene Oregon.

All are welcome, please RSVP on the event page.

The family has asked for donations to some of Joe's favorite charities in lieu of flowers.