HANSON, Karen Anita

Silver Creek Mortuary, Taylor, Arizona Karen Anita Hanson (February 10, 1954 - December 31, 2014) Karen Anita Hanson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend, transitioned from life on December 31st at her home in Show Low, AZ. Born in Escondido, CA to Irving Eneboe and Doris Timm Olsen, Karen was raised in Vista, CA and graduated from Vista High School in 1971 with honors. In 1973 she married Jeffrey Scott Hanson, whom she met while attending California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks, CA. Through almost forty-two years Karen and Jeff were partners and created a wonderful life together filled with love of extended family and friends, rewarding careers, camping/traveling, service to others, and building a home near Show Low, AZ. After having lived in Camarillo, CA and Tucson, AZ, a happenstance drive up through Show Low almost thirty years ago began Karen and Jeff’s love affair with the White Mountains of Arizona. Their commitment to this community was no more evident than during the great Rodeo-Chedeski Fire when Karen and Jeff partnered to assist during the fire. Jeff acted as a Public Information Officer for the City of Show Low for international media and Karen was the Public Information Coordinator for the Forest Service. With a B.A. in Spanish, a M. A. in Nursing, Karen was a lifelong learner both personally and professionally. She was a voracious reader, and explored many subjects of interests, sometimes becoming nearly an expert in some. Karen was very passionate about nursing and during her career she was involved in most every aspect of the field. However, no matter in what discipline of nursing she worked, people were her priority- from working trauma cases in the ER, to assisting Show Low middle and high school students as the school nurse, to providing comfort care to hospice clients, to serving as instructor and administrator for the CNA Program at Northern Pioneer College, her “dream job.” Being very energetic and creative, Karen always had to be in motion. She was always involved in some kind of project, whether it was sewing, crocheting, crafting or quilting; she loved to make special one-of-a kind gifts for others. She took great care in the selection of the colors and materials, and spent countless hours creating the perfect gift for each individual person. Karen loved being in nature, especially here in the White Mountains. She greatly enjoyed taking river hikes as well as walks on the beach when visiting family at the Southern California coast near where she grew up. Having animals was also a very important hobby for Karen, and she enjoyed the ranch life raising turkeys, chickens and steers as well as training and riding her horses. She also became very skilled at training their many dogs. When she herself could not take in a stray animal, she would try her best to find a loving home for it. Whether it was friend, family member, or stranger, Karen would go out of her way to help others. Karen loved people and with their large house, she enjoyed having it filled with laughter, conversation, and activity. She and Jeff opened their home to several foreign exchange students and “friends of friends of friends.” She was everyone’s “mom,” a strong nurturing presence for her peers, her patients, her students, her friends, and of course, her extended family. With her unselfish nature, she saw the potential in others and tried her best to assist them in meeting their goals and accomplishing their dreams. She believed in others even when they could not believe in themselves. She made her world a better place. Strong and determined, loving and wise, sharp and witty, spiritual and practical, with a “larger-than-life” energy, Karen created the life that she desired with her husband and partner Jeff. Through the countless lives she has touched, her beautiful soul will never be forgotten. Her family and its extended members include her mother Doris Olsen, sisters Nancy Rowles and Kristin Olsen, sons Scott (Kiran), Christopher (Caitlyn) and Kevin (Jennifer); grandchildren- Sahaj, Hailey, Isabella, and Seth; special grown “children from other mothers” Jesse Hall, Rhonda Wederski, Amber Fox, Ashley Fox and Theresa Fox; as well as a number of foreign exchange students from around the world. A private family memorial is planned. Kindness to others in her name will be the best way to honor her memory.