Gloria Mae Hannah

GLORIA MAE HANNAH   – Life Sketch  to be read by grandson DIRK MYERS

April 25, 1928 –  July 5, 2017

Gloria’s life journey began on April 25, 1928, in Waukegan, IL.  to parents  Harold and Agnus Gramer.  Gloria was 2 when her mom died, and 8 when her dad died.   Times were difficult for this young family of the Depression.  Her brother “Buddy” and her sisters Mary and Isabel were raised by aunts and uncles in Minnesota.

As a fourth grader, Gloria was not looking for a lifetime partner.   Way back then  a kid named Bert Hannah would sit behind her in class and  dip her braided hair  into the inkwell on his desk.  They remained school friends through high school. They were married September 21, 1947 and celebrated their 67th anniversary just prior to Bert’s death.

In the winter of 1952  Gloria and Bert made a life changing decision.   Gloria’s brother Buddy was stationed in Idaho.  He described IDAHO as God’s country.   Bert, Gloria and two little girls headed west to check it out.

 Much to their surprise a  curious snow plow driver stopped this family in route.   He asked them why they were trying to get to IDAHO on a closed unplowed road among the high mountain  peaks of Yellowstone Park.  That driver  guided this family back onto the safest road and pointed them to Idaho on an open road.   Bert and Gloria and their little family found God’s country and made IDAHO  their life long home.

Gloria’s  focus was on their 4 daughters, Mary Ellen, Julie, Susie, and Annette.  She made sure they always had freshly starched, and pressed ruffle dresses even if they were just going to watch Bert drive a racecar at a local speedway.   She was a brownie troop leader,  a drill team mom, and helped her daughters make great school projects. 

As Bert’s employment changed, the family followed.  Gloria worked outside the home as a switchboard operator in Boise, Burley, ID,  Bountiful, UT, Idaho Falls.  She was also the  night manager for the Blackfoot  Idaho Newspaper

 Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Bert Hannah, daughters, Julie Ann Link and Susan Kay Burbank of Boise,   She is survived by her daughters Mary Ellen Myers, and Annette Dunn of Boise and Kuna.  Her  grandchildren live in Idaho, in Texas, and in California