Mary Hanson

Longtime La Plata County resident Mary Helen Hanson died Thursday, August 1, 2013, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo. Mrs. Hanson was born to Juanito and Macedonia Lucero on October 14, 1944, in Durango. She attended school in the Ignacio and Allison areas. On October 6, 1979, Mrs. Hanson married Carl J. Hanson in Bayfield, Colo. They were married for eight years before Mr. Hanson's death December 31, 1987. The couple resided in Durango. Throughout Mrs. Hanson's life, she mostly worked as a caregiver/housekeeper for several families. She worked for Sam and Jackie Maynes for more than 20 years. She also worked for Mike and Josephine Stranich and Dr. Hail in Durango/Bayfield for several years. Mrs. Hanson also did catering for many years and was a volunteer at the La Plata County Humane Society Thrift Store. Mrs. Hanson was a collector; she loved her chickens/roosters and cookbooks. She also enjoyed traveling, knitting, crocheting, working in the garden, cooking, reading and watching the deer and hummingbirds in her yard. She also enjoyed spending quality time with her family and friends. She was well known for her friendliness and her smile. Nobody was a stranger to Mrs. Hanson and she treated everyone like a friend. In 1992 Mrs. Hanson met Phil Hearns and they became good friends. They enjoyed spending quality time together and doing many activities. Mrs. Hanson became ill about four and a half years ago and moved to Bayfield so Mr. Hearns could become her caregiver. He was always there for her and provided the best care for her day and night. Mrs. Hanson was a member of the St. Columba and St. Ignatius Catholic Churches. She loved attending mass and reading scriptures. Mrs. Hanson is preceded in death by her brother Paul Lucero, niece Tanya Lucero, husband Carl J. Hanson, father Juanito Lucero, mother Macedonia Lucero, brother John (Sammy) Lucero, brother-in-law Ronald Gene Thompson, and nephew Jaxon James Formea. She is survived by her longtime friend Phil Hearns of Bayfield, three stepchildren from her first marriage, Mark Hanson of Maine, and Tom Hanson of Oregon and Anne Hanson of New York state; brother Lloyd (Clara) Lucero of Ignacio, sisters Emma Lou (Al LiBrande) Lucero of Durango, Mary Ann (Larry) Johnston of Boise, Idaho, and Sarah (Ron) Thompson of Bayfield, brothers Orly (Carol) Lucero of Cortez, and Arnold Lucero of Bayfield, Allen Lucero of Denver. She is also survived by many uncles and aunts and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 S. Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81303, or Hospice of Mercy, 1 Mercado St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Friday, August 9, 2013, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2013, also at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Burial will take place at Pine River Cemetery. The family requests that friends and family wear green the day of the service.