Toni Hanson's Obituary
Sweet Mom,
The morning you went to be with our Lord and Savior, August 2, 2023, our whole world stopped. But in that moment, we rejoiced through our pain, knowing that you were in the arms of Jesus and reunited with the love of your life of 64 years, Leland Hanson. We would have given anything to see that sweet reunion and the celebration with the angels, but we know you will be waiting for us all with your beautiful smile and loving hugs.
Oh Mom, the world did not know that the gift of life from your parents, Joe Marion Stultz and Glenna Pearl Martin Stultz, on July 16, 1945, in Kingsport, TN, would change so many lives for the better. They named their sweet baby girl Linda Antoinette Stultz, but we know you go by Toni because your brother Pete Stultz wanted a brother, and Toni, short for Antoinette, was a boy’s name to him. Their daughter, Toni, made her way through this world leaving a legacy of love, laughter, and a trail of new believers in Jesus Christ.
We all are envious that you graduated from Longview High in 1963 with dad and began with him a lifetime love that would grow so strong that the two of you truly became one. Our whole lives we have been so proud to tell everyone, “Our mom was a World-Famous Kilgore College Rangerette, and a Lieutenant all while completing her Associates Degree in Business Administration!” Your love of dance spilled over into every aspect of our lives. Even at 77 years old, you were still challenging us to high kick competitions!
Momma, if you truly only knew how many lives you changed in your 20+ years of owning and operating Toni Hanson’s Dance Unlimited Studio. Yes, Mom, you were an outstanding dance teacher. You never taught sitting down, you never had anyone else choregraph your routines, and you danced every dance with every student. But Mom, what was most important about you as a dance teacher is that you changed lives. You became a mom to hundreds of girls. You were never afraid to share with the students and the parents your love for the Lord, and your students’ well-being and salvation was most important to you. If you could only hear the stories that we have been hearing….oh, you were one of a kind.
You were a teacher in every aspect of the word. I do believe your greatest calling was to be a 4th grade Sunday school teacher and VBS leader at First Baptist Church of Longview. For over 50 years, you had hundreds of children’s 100% attention when you told them stories from the Bible. Oh but you did not just tell them Bible stories, you brought the Bible stories to life. Whatever the story, the character, or the animal in the story, you made it real to the children by acting it out. Mom, the seeds you planted and the lives you led to Christ are too many to count, but God knows each one of them, and this is why your crown is heavy today.
You showed us what being a true prayer warrior means. Mom, we knew if you said, “I am going to pray for you,” you meant it. You would always pray immediately, fervently, and continue to pray even after your prayers were answered. Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about something that was troubling to us, and you immediately stood up, grabbed our hands, and said, “Where two or more are gathered, there am I with them.” And you prayed over us. Our prayer lives are forever changed because of your example as a prayer warrior for the Lord.
Growing up, as your children, Jeffrey Leland Hanson and Ashley Antoinette Hanson Summers, we had the best adventures. You built forts with us; you were the Queen of pulling pranks on us; you taught us how to do underwater gymnastics; you threw epic birthday parties for us; you taught us that a 3-wheeler could in fact hold 4 children on it, and you, Momma, never missed one moment of our lives. You taught us that the house could be picked up later, but making memories that would last a lifetime, that was what was most important.
The two of us were so lucky to find Amy Vaughn Hanson and Glenn Nelson Summers, and you loved them as your own from the first day you met them. Your beautiful grandchildren, Madison Anne Hanson, Jacob Huff Hanson, Maryna Antionette Summers, Ashley Summers Canterberry and Thomas Barry Summers are the luckiest grandchildren in the world. No, their sweet grandmother did not teach them to make cookies, do needle point, or sew, but their Gran taught them to live life to the fullest. You, Momma, made each of them feel so special. You made sure they knew how proud you were of them, that the world was at their feet, and that you were always in their corner.
Reflecting on your life, Mom, has brought us so much joy. You never entered a room you did not light up with your radiant smile. You brought life to any party or any family gathering. And my goodness you brought a competitive edge to everything you set out to accomplish. Being your children was our greatest joy. Mom, you were always our biggest cheerleader. In our lives, we have both accomplished so many wonderful things, and that is because we knew you were always there to push us to be the best we could be and to never give up!
We know you entered the gates of Heaven beaming from ear to ear, and we can truly as a family envision you lining up the angels for a quick 5, 6, 7, 8! You were our best friend, you were our mentor, you were our cheerleader, but most of all, you were our mom. And we are better people because of that gift.
We will carry on your legacy, Mom, we promise. We promise to look for good in everyone and everything. We promise to love each other unconditionally. We promise to keep God in the center of all we have and all we do. And we promise to never stop telling stories about the world’s greatest mom, grandmother, sister, wife, aunt, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law that ever walked the face of this earth.
We love you endlessly,
Ash and Jeff
What’s your fondest memory of Toni?
What’s a lesson you learned from Toni?
Share a story where Toni's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Toni you’ll never forget.
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