Kay Hanson

Feb 21, 1954 -

Nov 17, 2020

Kay Hanson, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away peacefully with her children by her side on Nov. 17, 2020. She had fought a hard battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 66 years old.

Kay was born on Feb. 21. 1954, in Seattle, Wash., and lived most of her life in Kenmore, Wash. She graduated in 1972 from Inglemore High School in Kenmore. She moved to Alaska in 1976. She followed her dreams and worked hard to become a 2002 graduate of University of Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing. She was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in May 2002.

Kay loved working with and helping people and her employment showed it. She worked at Charter North Hospital as an intake specialist from1987-2000, then she worked at Providence Children's Hospital from 2002-2003, and she completed her nursing career at Surgical Care Associates 2003-2020.

Kay adored her grandchildren, while spending time walking, biking, reading, baking and sewing with them. She loved family time and riding her bicycle on the trails near her home. She loved gardening, especially tending to her various sunflowers. She loved all animals and supported the SPCA. She was devoted to her German shepherds. Kay loved to travel. She traveled the world and enjoyed soaking up the sun.

"Kay was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Kay was loved by everyone she met, and had a heart of gold. Kay was a strong independent woman able to complete any home improvement task or paddle her way across a lake on a paddle board. She was always there to lend a helping hand to neighbors, strangers, nursing students and especially her family. You would always find her with a smile on her face and arms outstretched for a hug."

Kay was preceded in death by her mother and father, Loren and Kathleen Ratliff; and her sister, Karen Corbett.

Kay was survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Erica and Jeff Arnold; her son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Catalina Hanson; her grandchildren, Emma and Wyatt Arnold; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Kay's family would like to thanks the Alaska Oncology group for her care throughout her brave fight. They would also thank Providence Hospice Care for the love and care they provided in Kay's final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kay's memory can be made to Alaska SeaLife Center.

Due to restrictions, Kay's Celebration of Life with be planned for an undetermined date. Her family will take her cremated remains to Magen's Bay in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.