Pamela Hobart Hutchinson Hanson died peacefully on June 17, 2023, at the closing of – in her own words – "such a happy, fun, healthy, blessed life. " She was born on March 25, 1935, to Mary and Guy Hutchinson in Arkansas City, Kansas. She shared childhood in southern Kansas with her sister Priscilla and graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1953. Pam attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri for a year, and then graduated Phi Beta Kappa with her BA in French from the University of Kansas in 1957. A lifetime Jayhawk and KU basketball fan, she was a member of the KU Chorale and Alpha Chi Omega, where she served her sorority as President. In her senior year at KU, Pam won a nationwide essay contest written in French on the life of Lafayette. It was to mark Lafyette's role in linking France to the American Revolution. She and 7 other essay winners crossed the Atlantic on the Liberté as guests of the French government for 8 weeks of travel, while 8 French students similarly traveled in the United States. One fate-filled day in Lawrence, Pam was walking on campus when some young men in a yellow convertible hailed her. With Bob Godfrey driving, Bill Cooney (future brother-in-law) in the front – she took a chance at sharing the back seat with a handsome medical student named Karl Hanson. She always knew "he was the one," and on June 8, 1958, she married Dr. Karl Hanson in the Presbyterian Church in Arkansas City – Pam memorably cried coming down the aisle, but always claimed this was due to the beauty of the music. Their first child, Laura, was born in Kansas City shortly before they left for La Jolla, California, where their son Phillip was born. After Karl's service in the Air Force, the young family settled in Kansas City, where they welcomed their third child Michael. Pam lived life joyously, and her sense of humor shone through even as her mind clouded over in late life. She shared love and laughter with close family and friends. Her life story is filled with friendships that began in college, and in La Jolla, Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, and of course Kansas City. She, along with sister Priscilla, took great interest in family history. Together they read old letters, viewed family photographs, visited archives and grave sites, and added to family stories tracing back from Kansas to the Texas Panhandle, Vermont, and Massachusetts' Old Ship Church. And oh, she loved her dogs – Tag, Mickey, Goldie, Dandy, Jacques, Leo, and even battery-powered Rascal (who went to the dog park more than a few times). Pam relished the beauty of the natural world. Many of her favorite activities were excuses to be outside – birding, hiking, swimming, camping, golfing (sometimes with her dog, but don't tell anyone), and sailing with Karl at Lake Perry. She learned to watch for birds from her mother in rural Kansas. From the salt waters of the coasts and open seas, to Lake Perry, Lake Quivira, and Marais des Cygnes in central Kansas, to the forests of Central America or Africa she was privileged to witness over 2500 bird species. Pam expressed her Christian faith through service, and by offering up sacred song in her rich alto voice. She served the Presbyterian Church as an Elder, youth choir director, and substitute adult choir director. Trained as a Stephen Minister, she spent 20 years providing supportive visits to people facing life's challenges. She volunteered at St. Luke's Hospital for 30 years, comforting anxious families in the Surgery Waiting Room. Pam's beautiful voice contributed to civic and church choirs – the Cantata singers in KC, the Kansas City Chorale, the Choral Arts Ensemble, and the KC Symphony Chorus, as well as choirs leading worship at Rolling Hills, and at Village, Presbyterian Churches. She filled in for full-time organists at Rolling Hills and at other churches in KC. Her final years were spent in the Claridge Court community, connecting with old friends, and meeting new ones. As her health declined, she and her family were blessed with compassionate care from the Claridge Health Center nursing staff and from hospice – though Karl remained her most extraordinary and loving caregiver every day of her illness. Memories of Pam are cherished by her husband of 65 years, Karl Herman Hanson, Jr. , and her three children, Laura Catherine Hanson with husband David Cecelski, Karl Phillip Hanson, and Michael David Hanson with wife Ashly Hanson. She loved and shaped the lives of her grandchildren –Vera Cecelski with husband Carl Kolosna, Guy Cecelski, Matthew Hanson, and Blake Hanson. She is remembered by her sister Priscilla Wilson, nephews Ben and Tim Wilson, and niece Mary Wilson, and by the extended Hanson family including David and Linda Hanson, their children Anna, Kirsten, and Drew, nephews Ray Overstreet and Patrick Cooney, and nieces Marie Renyolds and Sharon Wieczorek and Marianne Graham. A service celebrating Pam's life will be held later this year. Instead of flowers, please consider contributions to support the Village Presbyterian Church Endowment, Operation Wildlife, or Wayside Waifs.