Frances Ellen Hanson

Frances Ellen Hanson left this life on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at her home to be with her Lord and Savior. In her final days she was surrounded by her family and supported with the love and affection she gave all of her life. She was born at home in Social Circle, Georgia on June 7, 1933. She attended Social Circle School from first grade through eleventh grade, where she made honor roll each year. She always loved school and had many friends. During her four years of high school she won the Best Citizenship Award and graduated with a 98 average. In the yearbook she was described as having "every hair in place and clothes exactly right." This was a characteristic she maintained her entire life.
At the age of 15, she started working with her father in a grocery store. She worked every Saturday and also during the summer when school was out. At this early age, she loved people and enjoyed all the store's customers. This gift of genuinely loving all those around her was a constant throughout her life. She had the unique ability to calculate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in her head and never used or owned a calculator in her entire life. At the age of 16, she met the love of her life, Larry Hanson Sr. She married Larry on Christmas Day, December 25, 1951.
Larry served honorably in the United States Air Force, and she traveled with him to many different places. They lived in Panama City, Biloxi, Warner Robins, and Bermuda, among other places. He retired from the Air Force after 22 years of service. Larry passed away at age 55 from cancer. He was the love of her life, and they were happily married for 35 years.
Frances was full of love and full of life. Her beautiful smile and outgoing personality would light up any room she entered. She was always willing to help anyone in need and never met a stranger. In recent years, she fought several health challenges, including congestive heart failure. Her strong determination and will to live was evident to all who came in contact with her. She exhibited grace, peace, and love that she said came only from Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. In her last eight months of life, she exhibited tremendous resolve, strength, and courage that inspired every person she came in contact with. She never complained and never asked why; instead, she lived as an example of faith, trust in God, and love for all those around her.
She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and spending time with them. She was a proud mom and always supported her children and their families in all they did. She was a positive role model and set an example by the way she lived her life. She enjoyed cooking and taking care of her family. Birthdays were one of her favorite ways to celebrate with her family. She insisted on having a birthday cake and dinner together for all of her children and grandchildren on each of their birthdays. Of course, this included celebrating each of her 83 birthdays! A special debt of gratitude is extended to her daughter, Debbie, and son-in-law, Bubba Nolan. Debbie sacrificed her own life to take care of her once her health deteriorated over her final seven years of life and lived with her for her last eight months.
Frances sold Avon for 48 years. She loved all of her customers and her customers loved her. She made the President's Club 33 times and made the Honor Society six times. She won the Spirit of Avon award in recognition of her incredible spirit, attitude, and selflessness. She was a person who continuously gave of herself and shared her infectious spirit and positive attitude with all those who came her way. She always was such a lady; she prided herself on being well-dressed, with her hair, makeup, and lipstick always perfect. She loved eating out with family and friends at many local restaurants and particularly loved eating at the Valdosta Country Club.
She was a loyal friend to many and a faithful servant to all. She was a member of the Remerton United Methodist Church until it was destroyed by fire and merged with Forrest Street United Methodist Church to form New Harvest United Methodist Church. She sang in the choir for many years, was a member of United Methodist Women, served on many committees, as well as on the Board of Trustees.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Hope Hanson, Sr., her parents, Johnnie Amber Studdard and Anna Lou Studdard, and both sisters, Evelyn Linenbroker and Jean Ogelsby. Frances is survived by her three children, Debbie Nolan (Bubba), Teresa Stamschror (Jim), and Larry Hanson, Jr.; her five grandchildren, Dusty Wilkes, Andy Stamschror (Brittany), Scott Stamschror, Dillon Hanson, and Kara Hope Hanson; her three great-grandchildren, Owen, Anna Kate, and Henry Stamschror; three step-grandchildren, Laura Lynn Mullis (Mike), Emmitt Nolan, and Sunelle Johnson (Kris); and four step-grandchildren, Matt Mullis, and Madison, Kaley, and Gabby Johnson.
The family would like to acknowledge and give special thanks to Dr. Brian Griner for taking the absolute best care of our mom and loving her as if she were his own. We would like to thank Kerri at Dr. Griner's office for always being there and for her help and support far beyond the call of duty. We would also like to thank the staff and employees of Hospice of South Georgia for their compassionate and professional care during her last six months of life.
Services for Frances Hanson will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with Chaplain Jim Schappaugh officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 21st at Carson McLane from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, New Harvest United Methodist Church, or the American Heart Association. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602