Kevin Sean Hanks

Kevin Sean Hanks and his high school sweetheart Kathy (Katharine Leigh) Brashear married in Ozark, MO, on August 25,1978. The two were approaching their 50th anniversary when Kevin died on Sunday, November 9th, 2025.

Kevin was born in Springfield, Missouri, on February 1, 1960 to parents Dorrel T. Hanks and June Lee Maples Hanks. Kevin often said that his life really began on August 25, 1978, when he married Kathy. He worked at Great Southern Savings and Loan for 20 years (retired as of February 2025); he suffered a concussion and quadriplegia after a fall on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025. He fell into his final sleep on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, in the SSM Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri, in the comforting presence of his wife Kathy Leigh Hanks and his daughters Krystle Leigh Hanks and Cassidy Noelle Hanks Rosenbloom.

Place of residence at time of death: Rogersville, Missouri.

Life story

Born in Springfield, Missouri, Kevin spent several of his early years on a horse farm, where he became an accomplished rider. He learned early that if a horse shied and the rider tumbled off (as Kevin sometimes did, once spectacularly) he must immediately get back on the horse. In many ways, Kevin continued to "get back on the horse" even after he became a quadriplegic.

Kevin began elementary school in Springfield, and later, after a move, he attended and graduated from Ozark High School. Prior to moving to Ozark his nieces and nephew introduced him to their babysitter that would later become his wife. At the age of 18 he married his best friend, Kathy. After graduation Kevin began what was to be thirty-one years of military service: four years in the U. S. Navy, then twenty-seven years in the Army National Guard. A member of the 1107 AVCRAD unit in the National Guard, where he was deployed to Afghanistan. He received his first concussion in Afghanistan after the explosion of an improvised explosive device that destroyed the vehicle preceding him in a convoy. He was blown off of the machine gun nest of his vehicle, landing behind it. Not long after that, his National Guard unit sent him home (2004) owing to the imminent death of his father, Dorrel T. Hanks, in Springfield. He was also a proud member of the Army Band where he played the drums. While in the Army Kevin also attended Drury University.

Kevin was often outdoors: he enjoyed camping, fishing, dirt bike riding, hiking-almost anything outdoors. He and his family also went regularly to Disney World, one of Kathy's favorite destinations. Kevin especially liked the roller coasters. During his time at home, Kevin enjoyed grilling meat for the family, playing the drums, playing with his dogs, and in general spending warm family time. As Kathy puts it, "Family was everything to him."

Family

Kevin is survived by his wife, Katharine Leigh (Kathy); his son Michael Sean and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Hanks (grandchildren Phoenix and Miles); daughters Krystle Hanks, Cassidy Hanks Rosenbloom and son-in-law Neil Rosenbloom, his big brother, Tom Hanks, and his beloved Pug, Bellatrix. Kevin was happily anticipating the imminent birth of twin girls to Cassidy and Neil.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents, Katharine's parents (Lee and Donice Brashear), his brother Christopher and his sister Angela.

The family especially wants to express our gratitude to the caring and helpful staff of the Spinal Cord Unit of Jefferson Barracks VA Hospital, St. Louis, and to many nurses that treated him as family throughout the multiple facilities he was in.

Service and tributes

Kevin's life will be memorialized and commemorated in The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at 5201 South Southwood Road, thirteen miles south of Springfield, MO, on December 1st, 2025. The service is to begin promptly at 11 AM.

The family has asked that flowers be omitted; any monetary memorials should be sent to The Wounded Warriors Project at Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758516, Topeka, KS 66675 or to Patriot Paws at 254 Ranch Trail, Rockwell, TX 75032.