Roxye Hanley

Visitation: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Family to Receive Friends: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home.

Interment: Custer County Cemetery.

Roxye Sanders Hanley, age 91, of Miles City passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care in Miles City.

Roxye Sanders Hanley was born November 21, 1917 in Giles Co., TN. at the family home of her grandparents in the Aspen Hill Community. She was the second child born to Wyley Mitchell Sanders and Beatrice Fudge Sanders. Her brothers were: James Wesley Sanders, Thomas Marion Sanders, and William Henry (Nooky) Sanders.She was raised on a farm in the Aspen Hill community in Giles Co., Tennessee. Her grandparents bought the farm in 1892 which had a grist mill on it. Her grandfather, James Sanders died in 1895 and her grandmother, Balzora ran the farm and the grist mill until about the 1930's. After the death of Balzora in 1941, Roxyes father, Mitchell and her brother, Jimmy bought the farm.In addition to running the grist mill, they raised cattle and Tennessee walking horses.

By 1925, Roxye's parents moved to Decatur, Alabama and lived there until 1932. Her father worked for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad while living in Decatur. Roxye attended school at Prospect before moving to Decatur and then went through the eighth grade in Decatur. After moving back to the farm in Giles Co. in 1932, Roxye attended school at Prospect --graduating from Prospect High School in 1935. After graduation, she went to Decatur and lived with her Aunt Tomye Mitchell and family.

At some point after her stay in Decatur, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee along with her cousin Gladys Tate. They both worked for the Methodist Publishing House in Nashville. It was during this time she met Jack HanleyJack was a soldier in the Army and stationed in Nashville. They were united in marriage on August 5, 1943. After Jack was discharged from the Army, they packed up and headed to Montana with a Tennessee Walking Horse named Dutch and a short-haired billy goat! Tennessee relatives visiting later noticed that after moving to Montana with its cold winters, the short-hair on the billy goat had suddenly turned it into a long-haired billy goat!

Jack and Roxye set up a ranching operation on some property just south of his parents, Cliff and Ethel Hanley in Carter County and resided there until about 1959. They sold that place and bought a ranch just west in Custer County and resided there until their divorce in 1967.Roxye then moved to Miles City to raise her family. She furthered her education by obtaining a LaSalle Extension Accounting Degree by correspondence in 1960. She then worked at H & R Block and at the Custer County Treasurer and Clerk & Recorder offices.She enjoyed bowling, sewing, family events, entertaining numerous friends in her home and going out to eat with friends. The grandkids always remember that Grandma Roxye always had ice cream and cookies on hand when they visited. It was like a never ending supply!

Survivors include her 3 daughters: Daughter-Linda (Dean) Newman, Winifred, MT and their children: Jona (Lige) Murray, Canyon, TX; Tara (Neil) Bradley, Sioux Falls, SD; Mauri (Kel) Elness, Winifred, MT; and Jami (Curt) DeHaven, Tacoma, WA; Daughter-Debbie (Bob) Hagemeister, Kinsey, MT and their children: Lonnie (Kaycee Phillips) Hagemeister, Kinsey, MT; and Rob (Melissa) Hagemeister, Miles City, MT; and Daughter-Jackie (Steve) Anderson, Miles City, MT and their children: Barry (Keli) Anderson, Miles City, MT; Kyle (Tara) Anderson, Forysth, MT and Kelsey (Leo Pluhar) Anderson, Miles City, MT. She also has 16 great grandchildren: Nikia Bradley, Kylie, Reed & Hannah Murray, Wyatt & Dru Walkowski, Logan & Jaxen DeHaven, Jordan & Laynee Elness, Jordan and Lexi Hagemeister, Kaci, Riley, Ashton & Colton Anderson. Also surviving are 2 brother-in-lawsPat (Linda) Hanley, Swede (Pearl) Hanley and numerous nieces and nephews on the Hanley side. Tennessee relatives surviving are a first cousin, Gladys Tate Hill; 2 nieces, Fawn Snitzer and Judy Swafford, 4 nephews, Bobby, Steve, Phil and Larry Sanders and 5 great nieces and 4 great nephews and several great great nieces and nephews.

Roxye was preceded in death by her parents; all her brothers and sister-in-laws, Jimmy and Lorena Sanders, Thomas and Flora Sanders, and Nookie and Dena Sanders. Brother and Sister-in-laws, George & Ella Hanley, Gene (Bucky) Hanley and Dorothy Hanley Ashley, and Kay Hanley. Son-in law, Harold LaBree and nephew, Barry Sanders.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery.Should friends desire, memorials may be made to TLC or the charity of one's choice.