Barbara J. (Morse) (Myers) Hanson, age 88, a longtime resident of Tewksbury, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Cedar View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Methuen. She was born in Ayer on September 16, 1937, daughter of the late Roland Morse, Sr. and Ethel (Leedberg) Keane and had resided in Tewksbury for over 60 years.
Barbara will be remembered as a kind, independent, strong, quick witted woman who was generous with her love and laughter. Barbara absolutely loved having a large family, enjoyed travel, especially with her sister Caroline and brother-in-law Dave, and she was a champion cribbage player. A life long learner, Barbara successfully got her degree in her fifties after raising eight children.
She was the beloved wife of the late Bernard “Cliff” Hanson and her first husband the late Howard “Jim” Myers. Mother of Bernard C. Hanson, Jr. and his wife Mary of Andover, Peggie Milisci of Pelham, NH, Kathy Brewer and her husband Forrest of Candia, NH, Debbie Ragusa of Orlando, FL, Donna Ristuccia and her husband Dan of West Island, MA, Laura McLaughlin of Derry, NH, Tina Stout and her husband Mark of Albuquerque, NM, and Eric Hanson and his wife Lori of Lowell, MA.
She was the sister of the late Caroline Julius and her late husband David, the late Roland “Spike” Morse, Jr. and his surviving wife Kathy, the late Edward Morse and his late wife Barbara, the late Gloria Taro and her surviving husband Joe.
Barbara was the much loved family matriarch to her grandchildren Hannah, Katie, Krista, Emma, Ron, Leah, Mike, the late Brooke, Mike, Dan, Kelly, James, John, Shannon, Ben, Dayna, Jasmin and Joshua. She was a great-grandmother to Violet, John, Dennis, Michael, Crosby, Joy, Hazel, Ryder, Maeve, Marcus, Henry, Asa, Cameron, George, Rayna, Jude, Miles, Ben, Everly, Coralee, Emily, Casey, the late MacKenzie, and the late Colin.
Family and friends will be received on Saturday, February 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. A Celebration of Life will be held the same day at 1:30 at Long Meadow Country Club, 165 Havilah Street, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Tewksbury Community Food Pantry at www.tewksburypantry.org.