BEVERLY A. (OBLAD-MIKESELL) HANKS-GOWAN 1926-2009 Beverly A. (Oblad-Mikesell) Hanks-Gowans, 82, died Friday, August 14th, 2009. Funeral services will be held at the LDS Church, 1925 Broadway Ave in Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday, August 18th at 11 a.m. with a viewing available an hour prior to service. Beverly was born to Ada Parry and Frederick J. Oblad in Salt Lake City, Utah on Oct. 6, 1926. She was raised by her loving mother and step-father, Roy Mikesell. She graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City and began working as a soda fountain girl. When a handsome sailor, home on leave during World War II, asked her to make him a pineapple milkshake, she had met her future husband, the late Robert "Jack" Hanks. They were married June 6, 1946 and raised 6 children. A convert to the LDS Church at the age of 15, she served through the years in many auxiliaries. Beverly graduated from the S.L.C. College of Medical Technology, and worked for the U of U Medical Center for many years. Beverly loved nursing, but her primary passion was children. She donated countless hours working with exceptional children with cerebral palsy through the Salt Lake Jaycees Auxiliary. She belonged to the Salt Lake County Horse Club and the Silver Spurs horse drill squad. Her hobbies included bowling, dancing and teaching the hula as well as square dancing. After raising six children, she pursued her education at Cal State Fullerton in Early Childhood Development. In 1993, she moved to Boise, Idaho, and attended many singles activities of the LDS Church, where she met and fell in love with her current husband Stuart Gowans. She and Stuart were the cheerful greeters at the Broadway chapel, and were married for almost 13 years. She was active in the AARP and was Captain of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Beverly found joy in the simplest of pleasures: A visit from a grandchild, a phone call, a hug, a package in the mail. She treasured each holiday and many looked forward to her homemade divinity and fudge or her famous deviled eggs. She is survived by her six children, Monte Hanks, Linda Brown, Barbara Kennedy, Rebecca Robison, Blair Hanks and Jill Hanks, and three step children, Ann Beach, Amy Wortham and Andrew Gowans. Her devotion as a mother did not end after her children were grown. She spent many happy years influencing the lives of her 23 grand children and 16 great grandchildren and enjoyed personal relationships with each one. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Condolences for the family can be submitted online @ http://www.relyeafuneralchapel.com/.
