Shirlene Hanson, 88, of Bullard, passed away peacefully at her residence Saturday evening. A Funeral Ceremony will be held on Friday, Decemeber 13, 2024, at Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Bullard, to begin at 1:00pm. A visitation will begin on Friday at the Funeral Home, at noon, prior to the service. There will be a private interment at Tyler Memorial Cemetery following the service. Officiant will be Pastor Jason White - Lead Pastor of Colonial Hills Baptist Church.

Shirlene Stephenson Hanson went home to be with her Lord and the people she loved who have gone before her on Saturday December 7, 2024. 

Shirlene was born and grew up in Tyler, Texas surrounded by four brothers she adored. It was the height of the east Texas oil boom and she enjoyed visits with her father to the oil fields where he was building oil derricks. Her life centered around family, school and the Tyler First Assembly of God Church where her family were active members. 

She graduated from high school in Tyler and attended Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Austin. Her early career was spent in Dallas and Irving where she met the love of her life her sweet James gaining a whole new family which she treasured. 

When her children were in college Shirlene also enrolled to pursue her degree in counseling and gerontology at the University of Texas at Dallas Health Science Center. Shirlene continued her studies at the University of Texas at Arlington earning her Masters in Social Work.

In the words of her lifelong friend Patricia Harelson, "she was so many things to those she loved". She loved fiercely and loyally and delighted most in bringing family and friends together for music and laughter. Shirlene and James spent every summer planning family and friend reunions at the lake with campfires, swimming, water skiing and fish fries. Making memories for her family and friends was her joy.  

Shirlene never got over the pain of the injustices she witnessed as a child and she still cried when passing one childhood friend's home where she witnessed a six year old working as a maid, being beaten for not moving fast enough. She spent her life working to stop injustice and bigotry. Her social work career focused on being an advocate for the elderly and their families. Every year in the weeks before Christmas she and James would be found quietly purchasing and wrapping gifts to make sure every family in her case load had something from Santa under their tree.

Her later years brought severe joint disease which she handled with grace and patience. Her bright spirit, humor and sparkling smile were with her until her last day. 

She is survived by her daughter Janith Williams, step daughters Fadra Hanson Towers, and Clair Hanson Dannhaeuser. Brothers James Kenneth and John Paul Stephenson, sisters in law Walliece Keith Stephenson, Linda Stephenson, Ella Pearl Burt and Martha Gingles and her beloved nieces and nephews.   

She is preceded in death by her cherished husband James Kenneth Hanson Sr. and son Curtis Mack Williams, and stepsons James Kenneth Hanson Jr. and Martin Gingles. Her parents Elton Eusco Stephenson and Musie Pauline Jackson, brothers Elton Eusco and Williams Charles, brothers in law Wilbur Burge, Billy Noel Hanson and Claude Gingles and sisters in law Esther Price Stephenson, Wanda Davis Stephenson, Waynie Griffin Stephenson, Virginia Hanson Burge and Dixie Carter Hanson. 

Please send floral contributions to Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Bullard.