Carolyn June Hanks

BURLEY – Carolyn June Hanks, age 75, passed away at her home in Burley, on Wednesday, July 25, 2012.

Carolyn was born on June 12, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up on a sugar beet and chicken farm west of Salt Lake – which is now called West Valley City. She spent many hours of her youth working with the chickens and other farm chores. Her mother died when she was four and her life took a difficult turn. Reading became an escape and a great diversion from the rigors of life. As a result, it became a lifetime ingrained habit.

A special English teacher insisted that she attend college. She attended 3 ½ years at BYU, but finished her degree at Idaho State University fifteen years later. It was at BYU that she met her husband. They were married on Friday the 13th of December 1957, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. In 1958 they moved to Burley, Idaho, where she worked at Spencer’s Office Supply store – while her husband worked at various odd jobs, including at the Burley Veterinary Hospital, while they were amassing 12 purebred Angus Cows. In 1962 they moved to a small ranch in Dillon, Montana.

The first two years in Dillon, they lived in a one room log cabin (called the bunk house) while renting the ranch house in order to get funds to live on. Water had to be carried in, and wood chopped to feed the wood stove. Restroom facilities consisted of an outhouse. She considered those two years as very happy ones. Her children, Elizabeth and Bryan, joined the family while in Montana. Realizing that the children could not get by as austerely as they were living, a career change became necessary.

They moved to Rigby, Idaho, in 1969, and she taught school for one year at Menan, before moving to Bountiful, Utah. Three years later she completed her degree at Idaho State University – followed by twenty years of teaching at Dworshak Elementary in Burley. She taught two years in the fourth grade and the rest as a first grade teacher. On retirement, she and her husband traveled extensively through both the United States and Canada doing wildlife and nature photography.

Carolyn was a relentless worker who loved her yard, garden, and flower plots. She was very loyal and unselfish – putting family concerns ahead of her own. She also loved teaching kids to read and was the source for many to acquire that necessary skill.

She was a faithful and active member of the LDS Church. She was much loved by her children, grandchildren (who were very close to her), and extended family members.

She is survived by her husband, David Hanks of Burley; two children, Elizabeth (Allen) Ash of Lehi, Utah, and Bryan (Inessa) Hanks of San Jose, California; her grandchildren, Clint (Kylie) Ash, Koy Ash, and Kaylee Jo Ash; one sister, Shirlee (Jay) Barton; and a brother, Keith (Mary) Johnson. Two sisters and her parents preceded her in death.

The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Star LDS Church, 100 S. 200 W., of Burley, with Bishop Jeff Harris officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.