Obituary of Marilyn J Hansen

Marilyn J. Hansen 92, November 22, 1922 - January 7, 2015. Preceded in death by husband, Lt. Col. (ret) Merlin Hansen in 2005. Survived by daughter, Mary Jo Hansen (Alex McLaughlin); sons, Curt (Connie), Jon (Christina), and Eric; grandchildren, Tait Hansen (Melanie), Melanie Aguiar (Allan), Erica Blue (Brandon), and Mary E. Carr (AJ); great-grandchildren, Kayleigh and Gabriel Aguiar, Jakob and Lukas Hansen, Kyle Cunningham, and Caleb Carr. Mom attended Iowa State College as a member of Delta Zeta sorority and graduated with a degree in home economics in 1944. In August 1945, she married Merlin, who ended up being her husband for over 60 years. Throughout her life, mom had a love for travel and had the opportunity to visit many different parts of the world. In the 1930's/early 1940's, she and three female relatives drove alone from the Midwest to the west coast where she worked for a brief time at a diner in Hollywood, serving up food to some of the classic stars of that era. As the wife of a military man, she got to see Kentucky; Massachusetts; Tripoli, Libya; and Maidenhead, England. After settling in Tucson, she traveled to Moscow, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Alaska, Hawaii, attended the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Austria, and took numerous cruises. Aside from being a homemaker, mom volunteered at The Assistance League of Tucson and the Tucson Symphony Women's Association Blue Door thrift shop. She loved to attend theater productions by Arizona Theatre Company, Invisible Theatre, and UA Presents and was a member of Abounding Grace Church in Tucson. Mom played in several different bridge clubs, enjoyed hiking and playing tennis (well into her 60's) and at the age of 65, enrolled in a tap dance class, only to be less than enthused when she learned she would have to perform in a group recital to be eligible to graduate. Mom had a huge fondness for animals and attended the Feast with the Beasts at Reid Park Zoo any time she could. There was not a breed of dog that she did not like and in her last years of life, she always cheered up any time a therapy dog was brought in to visit. We will miss the classic wardrobe changes you performed at Christmas time until we can see them again. We love you mom and are thankful you have found the peace you had been seeking these past several years. We would like to thank TMC Hospice and Moreno's Home Care. At mom's request, there will be no services. Donations in her name can be made to: Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Tucson Community Food Bank, or The Ironwood Pig Sanctuary, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME , Dodge Chapel