Alvin Maddison Hanson

Alvin Maddison Hanson, 93, our loving father and grandfather, left us Jan 10, 2009. Gaye, his wife of 64 years, preceded him in death just over a year ago.
Al was born July 8, 1915, in Providence, Utah, to Oliver Hanson and Emily Maria Maddison, where he and his four brothers and two sisters spent their childhood. His college education started at Utah State University after he graduated from South Cache High School. Al served a faithful Church mission in pre-war Nazi Germany, returning in 1939. He continued his studies at USU where he received BS (1940) and MS (1942) degrees in Geology. He then went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he started work on a PhD in Geology. World War II interrupted this course of study.
Alvin served in the military during WWII in a variety of stateside locations. All of his brothers also served in the military during WWII. While serving in the Navy, in Washington DC, he met his future wife, Gaye Hardister, who was working for the General Accounting Office. They were married in Pensacola, Florida in 1944 and later sealed in the Logan Temple. His first son, Gary, was born in Pensacola in 1945. After Al's release from Active Duty in 1946 as a Lieutenant in the US Navy, he returned to the University of Wisconsin to continue work on his doctorate degree.
Alvin taught geology at Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana, where his second son, Michael, was born. While in Butte, Al received his PhD in 1949 from the University of Wisconsin. He began his career with Exxon Corporation (and its predecessor companies) in Worland, Wyoming, where his third son, Philip, was born. Subsequent moves with Exxon took him to Montana, Colorado and Louisiana. After 26 years with Exxon, Al retired to Colorado. He consulted for several years before retiring a second time. In 2003, Alvin and Gaye made their last move – back to Providence, Utah. He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman since he was a boy.
Alvin was active and faithful in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life and served in various leadership and teaching positions, including Branch President, Bishoprics, Quorum Presidencies and several Scouting positions.
Alvin was preceded in death by his brothers Walter and Robert, and his sister Olive, and is survived by his brothers, Frank (South Jordan, UT) and Wilford (Providence); his sister EmmaDell Blanch (Corvalis, OR); his son Gary (Providence) and grandchildren Scot Hanson (Pasco, WA), Emily Dial (Mesa, AZ), Sarah Platteborze (Everett, WA), and Joshua Hanson (Queens, NY), and seven great-grandchildren; son Michael (Trudy) (Long Island, NY and Amarillo, TX), and grandchildren Leah Hanson (Irving, TX), Chad Hanson (Irving, TX), Ashley Cook (Lehi, UT), and Tori Hanson (Amarillo, TX), and six great-grandchildren; son Philip (Cindy) (Tallahassee, FL), and granddaughter Alison (Tallahassee).
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 17, 2009 in the Providence 4th Ward Chapel, 100 East 100 North in Providence. A viewing will be held prior to services from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Interment will be in the Providence City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net