Susan Jenkins Hanson, aged 80, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025, in Edmond Oklahoma. She was born on January 1, 1945, in Higgins, Texas, to Lora Louise (Hurn) Jenkins of Higgins, Texas and Warren Charles Jenkins of Scranton, Pennsylvania. She was a proud resident of Higgins and was the 1962 valedictorian of her senior class. She attended Texas Tech University and graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in business administration in the top ten percent of her class. She married Jerold Edward Hanson on November 16, 1973, in Houston, Texas. She worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst for Samedan Oil Company and the Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Oklahoma, for 30 years.
Susan had a wonderful childhood growing up in the Texas Panhandle with her older brother Michael and her younger sister Margy. Her favorite activities included horseback riding, swimming, and water skiing. She also loved playing basketball against her older brother, Michael. They pushed each other to excel in both academics and athletics. Her dad Warren and mother Louise were avid travelers and took their children to see many great places in the United States each summer.
A woman of boundless kindness and unwavering love, Susan, was the loving matriarch whose kindness and wisdom enriched the lives of all she touched. She was always there with open arms, gentle encouragement, and a warm smile. Whether offering wisdom, celebrating achievements, or simply listening with an open heart, she had a way of making everyone feel valued and supported.
Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, creating lasting memories filled with laughter, love, and the simple moments that meant the most. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, strength, and unconditional love.
Susan devoted her life to the people she cherished most—her children and grandchildren. She was an incredible mother and best friend to Shannon, Stephanie, and Jonathan and his wife, Cheryl, a wonderful, kind and loving grandmother to their children: Meagan, Shawn, his wife Ambre and their two children Maddox and S.J., Ryan, Addison, Spencer, Isabella, Autumn, and Kamryn. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Margy Schoenhals and her husband Mark Schoenhals, and their children Amy, Doran, Carlos, and Mickey, and her brother Michael's children Chris and Casey, all who remained a dear and constant presence in her life. She was a generous friend to many who will forever hold her in their hearts. She is now reunited in heaven with her husband Jerry (Big Guy) Hanson, her brother Michael Jenkins, her parents Warren and Louise Jenkins, and other loved ones who passed before her.
A service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 2 pm at Matthew's Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Vietnam Veterans Association: https://vva.org/donate/?form=FUNDAVTAZBC
Though she is no longer with us, her love and kindness will continue to shine through the lives she touched. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.