Bennie Hansson

Bennie Hansson, age 90 of Gatesville, passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023, at Scott’s Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Dossey officiating.  The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service.  Interment will follow at Jonesboro Cemetery. 

Bennie Belle Smith Hansson was born March 7, 1933, in Jonesboro, Texas to the late Lucile Pittman and Homer Avent Smith.  Her primary story about her very early life was that the house where she was born was mostly a log house without running water or electricity.  Needless to say, this did not stop her from exceeding in life.  She enjoyed family life including being with her younger brothers “Bud” and Jerry.  She grew up in Jonesboro and graduated from Jonesboro Public School, where she excelled in sports, math, and sciences.  She graduated as Valedictorian of her class at the age of 17 in 1950. 

In the fall of 1950, Bennie enrolled in Baylor University in Waco, Texas, majoring in science and home economics.  She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in home economics in May 1953.  While this was a major achievement, her greatest pleasure that year was the acquisition of a brand new 1953 black Chevrolet coupe. 

She interviewed and was hired to teach home economics at Grandfalls Independent School District, where she taught for several years.  Subsequently, she taught multiple subjects in Bastrop, San Antonio, Dallas, and Grand Prairie.  While she taught in Bastrop, she met the love of her life, William Free Hansson.  They were married in the Methodist Church in Jonesboro on July 7, 1956.

During their years in San Antonio, the Hanssons had two wonderful children, Lucile Ann and Shawn Hilding.  When Bill Hansson was transferred to Waco, the family moved to Gatesville.  Bennie taught reading at Gatesville ISD until she accepted a position as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Reading Program at the Gatesville State School for Boys.  She later returned to Gatesville ISD, where she taught reading until she retired in 1995.  She was recognized with the Hornet Legend Certificate of Recognition in August 2019.

Bennie enjoyed life in retirement, especially with her friends and family.  She was a big supporter of community activities, but she became bored with her hobbies of cooking, traveling, entertaining, and playing duplicate bridge.  She accepted a position as an administrator at Let’s Grow Learning Center in Gatesville, which specializes in programs for preschoolers.

Bennie was preceded in death by her wonderful husband, Bill, on April 17, 1987; her mother, on May 7, 1991; her father, on September 6, 2001; and her brother “Bud.” 

She is survived by her family, Luci Zahray, Shawn, Carla, and Hayley Hansson, brother, Jerry Smith, brother-in-law, James Young, and sister-in-law, Judy Smith.

In lieu of flowers, Bennie requested that her friends make contributions to the Coryell Museum and Historical Center, P.O. Box 24, Gatesville, TX 76528, or to the Gatesville Public Library, 111 N. 8th Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.