Willard Bill Hanson passed away peacefully on Good Friday, April 3rd 2015 in Mount Vernon WA. with family around him. Bill was born in Mount Vernon on June 1st, 1927 to Herman and Myrtle Hanson. He grew up in Conway WA. and graduated from MVHS in the class of 1945. Bill spent his youth hunting ducks and trapping muskrats along the water ways around Conway with his sister Marion. In 1945 Bill enlisted in the Navy and spent most of his service time in Japan and China "showing U.S. presence" at the end of the war. On April 14th, 1951 Bill married Dolores (Dodie) Wendland at the Mount Vernon First Baptist Church. They made their home on the hill in Mount Vernon where they raised their four children. In 1952 Bill began his career as a firefighter at the Fire Department at NAS Whidbey. In 1977 he retired after rising to the position of Asst. Chief of the Fire Department. Bill was also was a volunteer with the Conway Fire Dept. and the Mount Vernon Fire Dept. In between firefighting shifts he would roof houses with his business partner Vern Hopley. Bill and Dodie were avid water lovers and took their boat out in the San Juan's to crab and fish. They made many trips to Hawaii. Their journeys also took them to Japan, Spain Portugal, Bermuda, the Carribean, and most of the U.S. Bill was a 60 year member of the 1st Baptist Church in Mount Vernon and also a 60 year member of the American Legion post 147 in Conway. Bill is survived by a son Roger (Sunny) Hanson of Spokane; daughter Lori (Larry) Hansen of La Conner; daughter Cathy Hanson (La Conner); and son Randy (Joy) Hanson of Bellingham. Bill has five grandchildren; Dan Hanson, Audrey (Ben) Ashworth, Ryan Hanson, Zach Hansen and Kate Hansen and one great grandson Noah Ashworth. He is also survived by two sisters, Helen Holt of Virginia and Marion Fina of Tacoma; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Dolores by 24 days; and his mother and father Herman and Myrtle Hanson. A special thanks to the caretakers at Ashley Gardens in Mount Vernon for their compassionate care of Bill and Dodie while they were there. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Mount Vernon on Saturday April 18th, 2015 at 1:00p.m. Memorial donations can be sent to the Special Olympics of Washington, 1809 Seventh Ave. Suite #1509 Seattle WA. 98101; or the Skagit County Historical Museum, P.O. Box 818 La Conner WA. 98257 .