Eva Louise Hanson

On August 14, 2025, the beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Eva Louise Hanson, affectionately known as Mammaw by her loved ones, passed away in her sleep surrounded by her son, Michael Hanson and grandson Lance Hanson, her caregivers, and was escorted away by Heaven’s angels. She was born on September 3, 1920, in Mississippi, as one of eight kids. She died at 104 years of age, just two weeks shy of her 105th birthday. The beautiful and beloved Louise Hanson grew up during the Great Depression, picking cotton. During World War II, she went on a blind date with the man who would later become her husband, Hjalmar Hanson. They first lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they had two sons that they dearly loved. Both sons served in the US Air Force. The first born, Robert Hanson, later became an archaeologist and Bible scholar. The youngest, Michael Hanson, went on to teach computer classes at Midland Technical College in Columbia, South Carolina. In Louise’s later years, her husband, Hjalmar, and she moved to Mexico Beach, Florida for their retirement, where they adopted Robert Hanson‘s three children: Heather Westphal, Lance Hanson and Sabrina Hanson. They taught their grandchildren the value of sacrifice, discipline, and how to be responsible, loving adults, just as they had done with their own children. In 2018, when Hurricane Michael severely damaged her home, she moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where she lived with her son, Michael Hanson, and her grandson, Lance Hanson, for seven more years until her passing. She is survived by her loving son Michael Hanson; her grandchildren, Heather Westphal (and beloved son-in-law Drew Westphal), Lance Hanson, and Sabrina Hanson; and her great grandchildren, Marco Aliaga (and wife Savannah), Sofia Ruehle (and husband Bohdan), AJ Westphal, Kenny Westphal, Eva Westphal, Hannah Westphal, Hjalmar Westphal, Robert Westphal, and Leo Westphal. She is preceded in death by her parents, William Heafner, and Annie Belle Heafner; her husband, Hjalmar Hanson (her husband for over 50 years); her firstborn son, Robert Hanson; and her seven siblings: Robbie Rickles, James, W. Heafner, Sadie Hester, Woolene Coggins, Lawrence L Heafner “Dubbs”, Betty Jean, Paxton, and Kenneth Heafner. What a blessed life she lived!! She is now joined in heaven's choir. She will be greatly missed by all of her Catholic and Protestant friends, but she leaves behind her legacy, the advice and guidance she offered anyone who wanted to know her secret to a long, successful, happy life, the sort of send off that now befits her: “Trust in the Good Lord, Eat Right, and Be kind to everyone, whether you like them or not; Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise, I will see you later.” Viewing and Wake will be conducted at Bevis Funeral Home on 200 John Knox Rd, Tallahassee, FL on Tuesday, August 19 at 6 to 8 PM. The wake is at 7:30 pm and a reception is included. (All times are Tallahassee time.) A Viewing ceremony will begin on Wednesday, August 20 at 11 am at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on 624 Miccosukee Rd, Tallahassee FL. At 11:30 am there will be a rosary prayer, followed by a Catholic funeral mass at 12 o’clock. (All times are Tallahassee time.) The Cemetery Service will be conducted at 2:45 PM central time in Panama City, FL (3:45 PM Eastern time for Tallahassee/Port Saint Joe guests) on August 20 at Garden of Memories Cemetery which is on 4035 15th Street, Panama City, FL. For those desiring to deliver flowers, they may deliver them to Bevis Funeral Home by no later than Tuesday at 6 pm. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Hanson Family with their arrangements.

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Eva Louise Hanson

September 3, 1920 - August 14, 2025