Wilma Irene Hanner

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Service Schedule
Graveside
Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery
1501 W. Maryland Ave.
North Little Rock, AR  72120
Friday, June 17, 2016
Noon
Cemetery
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery
1500 Maryland Ave.
North Little Rock, AR  72120
Memorial Contributions
The American Legion Auxiliary - Post 1
1415 West 7th Street
Little Rock, AR  72201


St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St.Jude Place
Memphis, TN  38105
Wilma Irene Hanner

July 11, 1930 - June 8, 2016


Wilma Irene Lowe Hanner, 85, of Pearcy, Arkansas, departed her very special life on this earth on June 8, 2016. Wilma was born in Poplarville, Mississippi, on July 11, 1930, to Lillian Morrison Lowe and Gayle Comet Lowe. Wilma wasn't born in a hospital. She was always proud to let her children know that she was born in the home of her grandparents, Nancy and Daniel Morrison. Her father passed away when she was just a very small child, and Wilma and her mother lived in her grandparents' home until she married. Wilma attended and graduated from Poplarville Schools. While attending a high school basketball game Wilma first saw the man that she would later marry. This young man, Austin Hanner, caught her eye because he was working the basketball game with a cast on his leg. Wilma started college at Pearl River Junior College in Poplarville, but she didn't graduate from there because love would intercede. She and Austin married on December 19, 1947, in a double wedding ceremony with her best friend Marie and Dempsey Beach. She would remain friends with Marie all of her life.

Most of Wilma's early married life was spent moving wherever Austin's work in sports and/or education would take him. They had their first daughter, Alicia Sherryl, on January 30, 1949, in Wiggins, Mississippi. In 1950 and 1951 Wilma worked as a legal stenographer for an attorney and State Representative in Wiggins, Mississippi. Their second daughter, Sheila Gail, was born on September 13, 1951 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Shortly after her birth, Wilma and the two girls moved to Keiser, Arkansas where Austin had already accepted a job and found the family a new home. Wilma taught the 4th grade in Keiser in 1952-54. In 1954 the family moved to Osceola, Arkansas. Their third daughter, Nancy Susan, was born on June 6, 1954. On May 17th, 1956 their fourth and final daughter, Sonya Anita, was also born in Osceola, Arkansas. Wilma was very ill after the birth of her last child. She was hospitalized in Memphis and had multiple kidney-related surgeries. The medical bills were large and the townspeople of Osceola opened a bank account and donated funds to help with the rising costs of her medical bills. She was so very proud that the people were so kind to them. She remained grateful for this her entire life. After recovering, Wilma taught the 6th grade in Osceola, Arkansas in 1957-58. In 1958 the family moved to Tuckerman, Arkansas. Wilma was secretary to the principal and a study hall teacher at Tuckerman Schools in 1958-59. In 1959 the family relocated to Turrell, Arkansas where Austin was the school superintendent. Wilma decided that it was time to fulfill her dream of getting her degree, so she went back to college. She attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas and received her BSE Degree in 1964 with a major in Elementary Education. She did practice teaching at the second grade level and actually taught her daughter Sonya. In 1959-60 Wilma taught a 6th grade class at Turrell and in 1960-61 she taught 7th grade reading and was a part-time bookkeeper at the school. From 1962-1965 she was the Turrell School District Bookkeeper. At this point, Turrell was the longest place the family had lived and they made many, many life-long friends. In the summer of 1965 Wilma once again followed Austin's career as it led him to the State Department of Education. The family moved to Loop Road in the Sylvan Hills area of North Little Rock, Arkansas. All four girls attended school at Sylvan Hills. In 1965-66 Wilma was a 6th grade teacher at Sylvan Hills Elementary, and in 1966-68 she was the elementary school librarian. She realized at this time that being a librarian was her career calling. She completed classes at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, and obtained her certification as a K-12 librarian. In 1968 she made her first career change that did not involve moving her family to a new home. From 1968-70 Wilma held the position of Assistant Librarian and Audio Visual Coordinator at Hall High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1970 she became the Director/Head Librarian at Parkview High School also located in Little Rock. This was her dream job, but Wilma wanted more. She still had a dream to further her education, which she did by completing classes at the University of Arkansas in 1977. She received her Masters of Education with emphasis in Instructional Resources. Her career dreams were complete. She was certified as an Elementary teacher, K-12 Librarian and K-12 Media Specialist.

Education was extremely important to Wilma. She was a member of the Arkansas Audio Visual Association, State Treasurer of the Arkansas Library Association in 1977, a member of Phi Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma, a member of Alpha Upsilon Chapter, Alpha Beta Alpha, a member of the National Education Association, a member of the Little Rock Classroom Teachers Association, Chairman of the Little Rock Secondary School Librarians' Association in 1973-74 and 1974-75; served on the North Central Evaluation visitation teams for Pine Bluff High School, Monticello High School and North Little Rock "Ole Main" High School, served as a delegate to the Association for Education Communication and Technology Region VII Leadership Conference in 1975. Wilma and Austin spent many years dedicated to the service of the State of Arkansas by being members and officers of and supporting programs of The American Legion Post 1, The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1 and The 8 and 40 and Arkansas Girls State programs. Wilma made many very good friends working with The American Legion programs and she loved it so much. She was always helping with fundraisers, donating school supplies or making donations to many different organizations that benefit people. She loved to help people in need.

In 2010 Wilma was struck with an illness that she never fully recovered from. She was in a rehabilitation facility for 9 months. The family was so afraid they were going to lose her, but Wilma wasn't ready to give up just yet. She convinced Austin to move. She had never asked him to move, but she wanted to be closer to her family in the Hot Springs, Arkansas area. In January, 2011, after 45 years of living on Loop Road very close to Sylvan Hills Schools, Wilma and Austin moved to Pearcy, Arkansas, and lived right by Lake Hamilton Schools. They were able to be with family and watch some of their grandchildren play sports and participate in school events. They were able to actually live with little boys. Since Wilma and Austin only had daughters, living with boys was a whole new view of life, and one they really enjoyed. They also enjoyed having a dog living in the house for the first time. Hattie Mae, a Great Pyrenees stayed by their side and guarded them day and night. She was Wilma's grand-dog.

In addition to having 4 daughters in her lifetime, Wilma was blessed with the birth of 6 grandsons: Austin, ''Scooter'', Gabe, Rick, Chris and Zak; 4 granddaughters: LeaAnn, Cindy, Samantha and Sydney; 9 great-grandsons: Aaron, Shane, Caleb, Billie, Jesse, Zachary, Hunter, Jackson and Calem; 3 great-granddaughters: Tessa, Brynn and Daniella; 3 great-great-grandsons: Carson, Mason and Zane; and 2 great-great-granddaughters: Preslee and Paislee.

With everything career and work-related that Wilma accomplished, it could appear to some that she might have neglected her family. Nothing could be further from the truth. Early in their marriage, she was very supportive of Austin as he focused on his career. She set her career dreams aside long enough for him to fulfill his dreams and to help him achieve them. She was always present when anyone needed her. Our memories are of this beautiful woman who was always standing in the kitchen on every birthday, holiday or whenever family came. She would be cooking the food that we all wanted. She would fix your favorite food and dessert, and she served it with a smile even if she was worn out. The apron was on, the smells from the kitchen were so good, the food was always the best and it was surely made with all the love possible. She held her children, grandchildren, and any family member who needed her with loving arms that will be missed more than words can say. She was the best woman we have ever known. She left behind a shining example of what we all should be, what we should all strive to be, but what we probably will never be. What a legacy….

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Austin Z. Hanner; one daughter, Alicia Sherryl Hanner Kyzer; brother, Clarence Ray Holliman; two grandsons, Michael ''Scooter'' Adams and Richard Todd Adams; and great-grandson Cody Austin Kyzer.

She is survived by her daughters, Sheila Colston of Pensacola, Fla., Nancy and husband, Dave Garrison, of Stuttgart, and Sonya Hanner of Pearcy; as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, June 17th, 2016 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. Roller-Owens Funeral Home at 5509 John F. Kennedy Blvd. in North Little Rock, Arkansas will have open visitation for Mrs. Hanner on Wednesday June 15th and Thursday June 16th from 8 am until 5pm on both days. You are more than welcome to visit and sign Wilma's book.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Mosher, Hunter Galster, Jackson Galster, Zak Colston, Kevin Jones and Murphy Mormon. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Gabe Hannahs, Gary Heral and Jonathan Werfelman.

Wilma's family would like to thank the staff of The Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hot Springs and the staff of Arkansas Hospice in Hot Springs as well Arkansas Hospice located on the 5th floor of Chi St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. The family also would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice Chaplan Mike Poye and Hospice Nurse Brenda Cox to whom we will be eternally grateful.

Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Wilma Hanner to The American Legion Auxiliary Unit One and St. Jude's Children's Hospital.



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1 Condolence(s)
Rita Hampton
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Thursday, June 16, 2016

Love Always, Rita Hampton