Bennitt 'Ben' Hawkes

Obituary Bennitt 'Ben' Hawkes, 85, of Beaufort, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at his home. The celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 2 to 5 pm at the Beaufort Grocery Annex. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate his life and share a 'Ben' story. Ben lived a full and loving life, 57 yrs of which was spent living in Fairfield, CT. During his time there he graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School. After high school he served in the United States Marine Corps and then graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. He shared his love of the sea with countless youths by being the Sea Scout Master of Ship 84 for over 25 yrs. His passion for boats found its way into his work where he captained the nation's oldest continuously operating ferry out of Rocky Hill, CT. He loved his dogs, both black labs and the "chili dog" variety. When he moved to Beaufort 28 yrs ago he continued his love of the water by raising clams in the North River. An avid pool player, he was a regular during tournament night at the Royal James in downtown Beaufort. He was also a regular at the Beaufort Grocery stopping by daily for his cup of soup. Ben will always be remembered for his kind and empathic heart, finding humor in any situation, his love of cooking and diving deep into topics like bread making. A wise man and rich in knowledge he will be deeply missed. Ben is survived by his wife of 31 years, Elizabeth Hawkes; one daughter, JenniferbHawkes of Miami, FL; one son, Peter Hawkes of Bridgeport, CT; three stepsons, Matthew Carbonara and wife, Ann Blue of San Jose, CA, Stephan Carbonara of Columbus, OH, and Nathan Carbonara and wife, Natalie of North Lewisburg, OH; two granddaughters, Gemma Hawkes of Miami, FL, and Melissa Hawkes of Bridgeport, CT; three step granddaughters, Peyton, Addison, and Eloise; and two step grandsons, Silas and Arlo. Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.net Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC. Services Celebration of Life Saturday June 10, 2023 2:00 PM Noe Funeral Service Svc., Inc