George passed away on Sept. 1, 2022, after a short battle with cancer. 

George was born in Lynwood, Calif. on Jan. 9, 1954; he was the oldest of four kids. George moved to Corvallis when he was young, and he graduated from Corvallis High School in 1972. After graduating high school, George married the love of his life, Cheryl Wood on July 1, 1972. They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. 

On June 23, 1975, George became the proudest Dad to his twin daughters, Brenda (Hanson) Graham and Christi Hanson. In 1979, George and his Dad, Dean Hanson, opened Hanson Tire in Corvallis, where he continued to work until he sold the business after 30 plus years. 

He began driving bus as a trip driver in Stayton, Ore. for three years and then in August 2015, he and Cheryl moved to Burns, where he started driving school bus as a route driver and trip driver for Harney County School District No. 3. All kids and staff loved George; he was everyone’s favorite bus driver!

George loved to hunt and fish, and he and Cheryl loved going for drives in the woods to scout. He also made lifelong friends over the years hunting in the Silvies Unit. They tromped those woods for over 40 years! He was an avid outdoorsman and there were many things he loved to do including: hunting, fishing, golfing, waterskiing, snow skiing, motorcycle riding, and camping. But his most loved activity was spending time with his four grandkids creating “grandpa adventures”. 

George was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Bernice Hanson, Albert and Mildred Pease; and his mother, Barbara K. Hanson. 

George is survived by his wife, Cheryl; daughters, Brenda (Nolan) Graham, Christi Hanson; and grandkids, Ryan, Jayson, Jocelyn, and Kamryn; his father, Dean Hanson; brother, Steve (Shirley) Hanson; and sisters, Beverly (Brian) Nordyke, and Kathy (Fred) Lowther. As well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 118 N. Broadway Avenue, Burns, OR. 97720. Expressions of all sorts may be made in whichever way you wish. 

If you’d like to make a donation in George’s name, please send donations to Harney County Home, Health & Hospice or to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. 

George will be inurned at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens & Mausoleum in Albany, Ore. A private memorial will take place at a later date.