Edna Mae "Hurricane" Hanks

Edna Mae "Hurricane" Hanks lost her battle with lung cancer in Missoula on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013. She was 78. Edna was born in Troy on Aug. 20, 1935, to Nina and Edward Miller.

Edna was a dedicated bowler and collector of cigarette lighters. Butterflies were her signature, and she collected them after she learned from her niece they were a symbol of good luck. She kept chronological photos in albums of family and friends since the early 1950's. She received her nickname "Hurricane" from a family friend because she never sat down. She worked tirelessly to make her home a welcoming place for everyone and kept logs of her visitors in guest books over the 30 years she owned her home.

Edna was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) and Elks Lodge, where she worked as a cook for many years. She also was a fervent supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Missoula. She was a caregiver for Partners in Home Care for more than 25 years before she retired.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 older siblings, husband Donald Hanks, common-law husband Walter McCann, daughter Myra Wallace, grandson David Jon and great-grandson Keenan O'Mailia. She is survived by her sisters, Lois Applegate and Janice Norman; daughter Merrie (Hanks) Miller/Barry Miller; grandchildren Nina O'Mailia, David Wallace, Sairy Miller, Joslynn (Miller) Keating/Keith Keating, Brianna (Miller) Jones, Trent Jones and Anthony Turner; great-grandchildren Amiyah O'Mailia Shakoor and Intika Williams; nieces Nancy Carver, Susan Fredenburg, Cindy Harvey, Yvonne, Jennifer and Heidi Applegate; nephews Craig Carter, Alvin and Thomas Harvey; godchildren Kelly, Joe, Jenny, Holly and Heidi Hansen; and many, many friends.

A memorial in Missoula will be at FOE, 2420 South Ave. W., Missoula, MT 59801 on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. She will be buried in Spokane next to her husband, Don Hanks. Graveside memorial in Spokane will be at Riverside Memorial Park on Monday, Oct. 28, at 2:30 p.m. Special thanks to Riverside Health Care Center for caring for her during her end of life

Read Edna Hanks's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.