Mary Alice (Larson) Hansen, 98

Mary Alice (Larson) Hansen, a long-term resident of western Colorado and more recently of Hendersonville, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 18, 2014, at age 98. Mary Alice was born Dec. 20, 1915 in Chickasha, OK, the eldest daughter of Clarence and Clarice Larson. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, receiving her B.A. in English in 1937.

On June 25, 1939, Mary Alice married Kenneth Hansen. The family lived in the Midwest for the next 10 years. In 1949, they moved to Gunnison, Colo., where they raised their three sons. Mary Alice maintained a home in Colorado for nearly 60 years. In 2009, she moved to Hendersonville to be near family.

Mary Alice was an active participant and leader in community and church groups, including P.E.O. She was a wonderful gardener, baker and artist, and loved the outdoors. An avid reader, she also enjoyed a good game of Scrabble. For nearly 40 years she pursued her passion for painting, particularly watercolors, winning several ribbons for her work. Most important, Mary Alice was an exceptionally loving and beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her husband Ken, who passed away in 1995, her sister Evelyn Claire Larson, and her brother Robert Larson. She is survived by her three sons – John (Judy) Hansen, Henry Hansen, and Chris (Jamia) Hansen-Murray; two former daughters-in-law, Peggy Hansen and Mary Hansen; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A celebration and commemoration of Mary Alice's life will take place this summer at Hillcrest Congregational Church in Montrose, Colo., at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014.

Donations may be made in Mary Alice's memory to the Western State Colorado University Foundation [Kenneth H. Hansen Memorial Education Scholarship fund, Western State Foundation, P.O. Box 1264, Gunnison CO 81230] or to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Foundation [Larson Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund, 1100 N. Lindsay, Oklahoma City, OK 73104].

To offer condolences online, please visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com. 

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.