Cary Dale Hansen

Cary Dale Hansen- 64, Our loving brother, husband, and step-father,, passed away peacefully in his home in Springville, UT on Sunday April 6, 2025, which was on his father’s birthday. Don has called Cary home. Cary was born in Provo, UT on March 5, 1961 to Don Franklin Hansen and Larayne Jensen Hansen. Cary was married to Debbie Marie Durrant-Johnson in Spanish Fork, UT on November 30, 2000. She preceded him in death on January 28, 2012.

Cary was a fairly simple man with a true love of his family and sports. Cary worked a few summers with Cubco Doors in Provo. He eventually retired from Utah Valley Regional Medical Center after 39-years of service, and was even named “Employee of the Month” once. Cary was given the nickname of “CAT” at the age of 6 by our good neighbor and friend Corey Duncan because he was always quick on his feet and could jump like a kangaroo? Mike & Corey used to tease Cat and told him his eyes “glowed in the dark”, because that's what older brothers did! Mike and Corey used to hide behind the furnace and talk in a deep voice and tell Cat we were “Gus the Ghost” and make him bring cookies and leave them on a plate. Cat was so cute as a little “Bro” and we can still remember his freckled face and his big smile. He used to hang out at the baseball fields to watch his big brothers as he loved the game! Sometime’s his friends or brothers would egg him into a fight with some other obnoxious heckling kid because he was so quick with his hands and feet. We quickly found out Cary was a bleeder, and had many severe nosebleeds which required two transfusions. So needless to say, he quickly became a lover and not a fighter.

We had the BEST neighborhood ever! Everyone looked out for each other. There was always a game going on in the street or in the backyard. At one point our mother allowed us to use her baking flour to make base paths and set up a diamond to play plastic baseball with the neighbors. We wore the grass out, but our parents didn’t care! When we got ourselves a basketball court, that was the place to be! He loved trading baseball cards and the summertime night games, and Any-Aye-Over, Hide & Seek will be memories never forgotten. Cat even got injured when he got poked with a set of deer antlers below his knee while playing night games at the Petro’s. The memories of sparklers, Roman candles, smoke-bombs,and firecrackers what a hoot! Sitting on top of the roof and watching Geneva Steel pour the hot slag as it glowed across the valley.

Cary loved playing baseball from the time he could walk through his SHS baseball days. He even advanced to the Salt Lake Regionals in the “Pitch-Hit-Throw” competition. Cary played baseball for SHS and was one of the best hitters in the state of Utah for batting average . He also played basketball or SHS and was on the team with his brother Kelly for one of the years. Cary was also on a Bantam Basketball team and was coached by one of his idols Wave Miguel and his brother Mike. They won the “State Championship”. Cary was well liked in school and had the ability to easily make friends. Cary was everyone’s friend!

Cary liked to hunt deer and pheasants in his youth. He also enjoyed fishing, camping, and golfing. Cary purchased a truck and camper from his uncle Jack and used it maybe 3-4 times before selling it. The straw that broke the camel's back is when he got it stuck on the Boulder Mtns. while fishing with Mike and Kelly. We didn’t think we would ever make the climb back out from the lake! Who will forget the many moments where Cary would yell at the tv when things went wrong for his team or when a referee or umpire made a bad call! Cary was an avid BYU Cougar and NY Yankee fan. And Cat had the ability to break-dance with his double jointed elbows and arms which was always a crowd pleaser! Cary hated driving in traffic! (He got this from his mom.) he never ventured out too far while driving, he had the ability to remember people's names. (He got this from his dad.) He really missed his mom & dad as well as his wife Debbie. Debbie was the love of his life and fell hard from the moment they met. It broke his heart when Debbie passed. Cary was a wonderful provider and caregiver and fought so hard to make Debbie’s life more comfortable, and has helped support her family for the past 23-years. He loved them all dearly and always had a story to tell about them. He treated them like his own and spent time playing with them, giving them nicknames, preparing food for them, and even doing much of their laundry. His love of “The Grinch” always tickled his family at Christmas which they all loved so much. Cary always made sure the family was taken care of on the holidays and birthdays, let it be known Cary loved Skittles, and Chico Sticks and always had a pocket full to hand out to the kids, and his coworkers. He wasn’t keen on technology and still preferred vinyl records.

He also showed love for his nieces, nephews, cousins, and all of their children and treated all with respect. Cary was an avid reader when it came to the newspaper or a good sports article. And who will forget him standing over the stove stirring his macaroni & butter as a little kid and still loved to do this for his family and kids! Cary liked music and was a big fan of Jethro Tull, Styx, the Eagles, and Shania Twain. He traveled to New York to visit a friend and this was a big deal for him. His family always got a kick when Cary would pour a bowl of cereal and wait until it got soggy to eat. He will surely miss his favorite Mexican dishes, his KFC, and his chicken noodle soup with Lay’s potato chips!

Cary suffered with two degenerative hips which created him a lot of pain but never really complained much. His main complaint was he did not like going to doctors! He lived his life as he pleased and was dedicated to his family which he loved so much!

May he now rest in peace!

Cary is survived by his two brothers Michael Hansen of Pleasant Grove, UT. and Kelly Hansen of Springville, UT. Also his four stepchildren, Daniel Johnson (Zara) , Dustie Johnson (Gabe), Katie Willes(Steve), and Amanda Johnson. He is also survived by 11-step grandchildren. Zeke, Abbie, Zoe, Corbin, Aubrie, Easton, Ariana, Talya, Thayne, and Linkin.

A graveside service will be held Thursday April 17, 2025 at Springville Evergreen Cemetery at 11:00 AM. There will be a viewing for friends and family prior to the service from 9:00 - 10:30 AM. on Thursday April 17, 2025 held at Wheeler Mortuary located at 211 E 200 S in Springville. 

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