Pickleball, Family and Faith: Meet Jaybee and Russ Hawkins
Warm, energetic and full of heart, Jaybee and Russ Hawkins are the kind of neighbors you want to have. New to Forest Ridge, but already rooted in the community, they have built their life centered around faith, family and fun. Whether they are travelling with their four grown sons, playing pickleball, or cheering on The Chiefs, you will most likely find Jaybee and Russ on the go. With a love for people, great food, and community, The Hawkins bring a joyful spirit to Wellstone.
Tell us a little bit about your family.
I am originally from Southern Oklahoma, and Russ is from Springfield, Missouri. Together we have four boys: Chandler (27), Brayden (26), Riley (24), and Colyn (21). We also have two dogs: Rowdy and Jojo. Rowdy, a shepherd mix, is eight and Jojo, a retriever mix, is three.
What do you do for work?
I am a real estate agent, and Russ owns Firehouse Roofing. We also invest in real estate. In another life, I would be a barista! I will happily make anyone who enters our home an iced coffee.
How long have you lived in Forest Ridge?
We have lived in Wellstone since July 2025
What is your favorite thing about living in Forest Ridge?
We love our neighbors and living on the golf course. We are very active, so we love that we can play golf and pickleball and go to the gym without leaving our neighborhood. We also enjoy the activities offered each month.
What are some of your favorite restaurants?
Russ and I are definitely foodies. Our favorite local spot is Korean Garden. They know us by name there. We also love Pho 71. I love making bread, and my family loves it when I make the infamous Chicken and Dumplin'.
Do you have a favorite place to hang out?
Ace Pickleball
Tell us about your hobbies.
We both love pickleball. We are members at Forest Ridge; however, we spend most of our time at ACE Pickleball in Broken Arrow. We call it our home away from home. We love to travel and see different parts of the world. We think the Island of Kauai is the most beautiful place on earth, but we also enjoy Santa Rosa Beach in Florida, and Branson MO.
What do you do in your free time?
We enjoy watching Landman, Yellowstone, Paradise and Dateline. I am an avid reader and love anything by Kristin Hannah. Russ and I can usually be found listening to one of our favorite podcasts: The Diary of a CEO or The Ed Mylett Show.
Do you have a favorite sports team?
Chiiiiieffffs! Russ loves the Chiefs. He grew up having season tickets with his dad. We attend a few games a year with our family!
Do you have any family traditions?
We do a yearly Christmas trip to Branson, and we spend a lot of time together with our adult kids. We try to travel to a different US city with them each year.
How are you involved in the community?
We give to our local church, Battlecreek, and we are involved with The Demand Project throughout the year.
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