JoAnn C. Hanson was born June 5,1941 to Jim and Gladys Cavin of Natchez Mississippi. She was the 4th of 4 children, the baby. Her nickname as a child was “Doll” because she was so cute.
Her siblings include William Cavin, Jean Cavin Rentfro, and Louise Cavin Skidmore.
As a child she grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. She fondly recalls the Magnolia tree and azalea bushes growing around the home and harbored a deep love and talent for gardening; both designing and growing. Years later she loved English-style gardens with roses. She grew a gorgeous herb and rose garden alongside a vegetable garden that was a marvel in northeastern Colorado. The delicate scent of a rose never ceased to thrill her.
JoAnn attended school in Baton Rouge where she earned a reputation for a quick, bright mind and a love of learning. She worked in the library and never lost her love for books. She owned an extensive collection of books and truly enjoyed the beauty and flow of well written prose. One of her favorite authors was Willie Morris whose understanding of the South with wit, humor and depth captivated her with shared experience.
JoAnn moved to Lincoln Nebraska to be near her sister, Jean, to attend Union College. She loved being an Aunt to Jean’s 4 children and Louise’s 2 children. At Union College she was introduced to William “Bill” Hanson who quickly became the love of her life. They married 9 months after meeting in a ceremony in Baton Rouge on August 19, 1961. Bill enrolled in the Army, and they lived in San Antonio TX and Tacoma Washington. JoAnn often recounted their early experiences with great warmth and happiness. She especially loved the Pacific Northwest and spoke of their time there often.
Bill and JoAnn moved to Bill’s family farm in Yuma, CO after his time in the Army. They lived 1/4 mile from Genevieve Hanson Mekelburg and they had 6 nieces and nephews she enjoyed. She recalls thinking that she never dreamed she would one day live near feed lots! There was never a time that she didn’t use a fragrance of some kind held to her nose whenever she drove by one!
Bill and JoAnn would go on to live in Yuma the remainder of their life together. JoAnn transformed the landscape of arid northeastern Colorado with a beautiful and lush lawn and garden around the home. One of her pride and joys was sitting in her beautiful library, able to look out the window and feel as if you were in Mississippi. Her pride and joy was a carefully curated, mown landscape. I remember her deep satisfaction with this as she sat in a porch swing after a day of hard work admiring the beauty. She never lost the love of the forest of the South and loved the rich smell of Southern soil during her frequent visits to her parents and sister. JoAnn was a talented artist, landscaper, seamstress and cook.
Any mention of JoAnn needs to include her love and knowledge of antiquing. Her stamina and knowledge were legendary and one of her absolute favorite things to do. Her passion was early American furniture and her knowledge and collection carefully and knowingly curated. Her home was tasteful, welcoming and inviting. Not to mention chock full of interesting finds! JoAnn was a Collector, with a specific palate. All things collected were done so with a reason. She loved a beautiful dinner table and accumulated a vast collection of plates, pottery, dish and cookware. A holiday table was an event!
JoAnn and Bill had one daughter, Juliann. One of the sadnesses of JoAnn’s life was they only had one child, but that child was treasured and deeply loved. I am that daughter and my Mother created a space and time for me to thrive in childhood with only childhood concerns to fill my day. My memories of growing up on the family farm are filled with care-free days of outdoor play, pets and close-knit family time.
JoAnn was an excellent listener and sparkling conversationalist, and her insights touched the lives of many friends, nephews, nieces and individuals who spent time with her. She had the gift of creating deep and abiding bonds through her entire life.
I do believe her favorite person on the Earth was her grandson, Nikolas. She delighted in his company as a child and an adult and was ever thrilled to spend time with him.
JoAnn possessed a quick and curious mind. She read extensively and taught many a child in spirituality in her Seventh-Day Adventist Church, astronomy, cooking. One of my favorite memories was her fascination with the stars and an evening we spent on the lawn observing the Leonid meteor shower. Another meteor shower was observed on the warm and velvet night of Delaroso road in Mississippi with a deafening chorus of frogs filling the night.
My mother loved: Walking in the Mississippi woods with her parents. We always returned to Colorado with a good portion of natural finds from the woods filling the van! She was a legendarily good packer.
A good game of Rook, great food, watermelon from her father’s garden, welcoming Colorado prairie evenings on a porch swing with her husband, watching the Colorado Rockies play with her husband at Coors Field. Game report in her ear and binoculars in hand, quiet time reading and contemplating a book, time spent with her family, a story well told, BBC murder mysteries, a soft and silky blanket, antiquing, cultural events in Denver with the symphony, art museum, shopping.
I remember her accounts of time spent on the bayou with her adored Father and sister Louise. JoAnn loved her family and spent many happy hours with her sister Jean. They shared a sharp wit and love of design and decoration.
JoAnn had a way of making people feel special, welcome and unique.
There were things she didn’t like:
wind; miller moths; snakes (especially in her garden); exercise- a good walk was the exception, walking while shopping preferable; dust; mice in the house or the attic of our old house.
JoAnn lost the love of her life, My Father, Bill, August 9, 2019. 2 years later she moved to Windsor Colorado into Assisted Living. She remained there until her death on June 2, 2024.
JoAnn is missed; her unique and tasteful presence, her humor and graceful dignity will be cherished in memory in those that love her forever. She will live on through her adored family and friends, and all that she grew a special connection with. I recall many a time people thanking her, for all she had added to their lives.
Please send memories to 56200 State Highway 59, Yuma, CO 80759