Jeni Maria Freeman Hawkins

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Jeni Maria Freeman Hawkins, 51, of Ririe, Idaho passed away on February 9, 2025, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  She was born on September 1, 1973, to George and Lanta Freeman, of Ririe, in Rexburg, Idaho. She was immediately greeted by three older brothers and later became the middle child when two sisters and a brother were born.  She was raised in Ririe and graduated from Ririe High School in 1991.  She enjoyed the outdoors and became a kayaker when working on the Salmon River during high school.  She attended LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah earning her Associate Degree in Accounting and Bookkeeping.  She worked at many local firms doing bookkeeping and spent the last several years working for Quicken/Intuit.

Early on, she developed a love for fast cars and the various Camaros she owned were constant sources of pride and speeding tickets.  Her love of NASCAR was a natural progression and her trips to races were fond memories.  She enjoyed traveling and visiting Jamacia, England, and Hong Kong.  But there was no better traveling than to a concert, with Meatloaf being one of her favorites.  But her biggest love was her family, particularly her many nieces and nephews.  She was a doting aunt and the “fun” relative, giving many first driving lessons and keeping the freezer stocked with ice cream treats for their frequent visits.

She met Leander Hawkins at work and they were married in October 8th 2021 in Salmon, Idaho. They lived in Boise and Kendrick, Idaho.  They bought the old post office in Kendrick and were in the midst of a renovation when Jeni became ill.  They loved the scenic area around the Potlatch River and Lee had made it his mission to turn her into someone to be feared by all the fish in the river.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed her calling working with the young children.  Aside from her car and truck collections, she had a penny collection that required two people to lift. She was a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

She was preceded in death by her Father, an older brother Marty, and a niece.  She is survived by her husband, Lee, and her mother, Lanta Freeman, as well as sisters Josee Freeman and Jeorgette Requiron and brothers Jason, Jeremy, Justin, and Jamie Freeman.  She leaves nineteen nieces and nephews and two grand-nieces heartbroken but with fond (and fun) life memories.

Services will be held in Ririe, on Saturday, 15 February at the Ririe Stake Center, 14061 N 130 E. Ririe, Idaho.  A viewing will be held from 9:00 to 10:45 am, with the service at 11:00 am.  Interment will be in the Ririe-Shelton Cemetery immediately after the services.  Instead of flowers, any gift to the Ronald McDonald House would be welcome.