John "Clark" Hanlon
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - December 8, 2011
Clark Hanlon died at St. Mary's
Hospital on December 3rd, 2011,
at the age of 94.
John Clark Hanlon at birth was
named after his maternal grandfather,
John Lewis Clark, in
Madrid, New Mexico, on January
31, 1917. He was the eldest of
five children born to James Harry
Hanlon and Ferrol Lenore (Clark)
Hanlon. He spent his early years in Willard, New Mexico. During
the Depression in 1930, he and his family moved to Taos, New
Mexico, to establish the Hanlon Funeral Home, the first mortuary in
the county. At the age of 16, he realized he was blind in one eye,
and his sight continued to decline until he was completely blind.
After his father died in 1960, he and his mother moved to Albuquerque
where he worked at a lunch counter in the federal building for
ten years, never having missed a day. He was then associated with
Fuller Brush and was the top salesman in his district. Although
blind, he memorized and navigated the city bus system to run his
route, with each customer writing their order for him. He retired due
to arthritic feet, having walked the many miles of his route. In the
early 80’s, he and his mother moved to Grand Junction to be closer
to family. When she became disabled, he lived with his sisters, first
Lenore and then Margaret, until his death.
Clark's hobbies included gardening, audio books, history, and music.
Although blind, he grew the most beautiful gladiolas, luscious
strawberries, and delicious vegetables in his garden until the age of
84. He planted, watered, and weeded by touch. He grew pinto beans
that he harvested and shelled by hand to give as Christmas presents.
He mowed the lawn with a push reel mower until the age of 92 and
rarely left a leaf on the property in the fall.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Lenore and Anna
Marie, and brother Jimmy. He is survived by his sister, Margaret
Talley of Palisade; his uncle and aunt John and Vivian Clark of Albuquerque,
NM; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins to
whom his selfless ways, patience, wisdom, and devotion to God
were an inspiration.
A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, at
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary chapel with a funeral mass at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 10, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Palisade.
Internment will be in Taos, New Mexico.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Talking
Book Library, 180 Sheridan Blvd., Denver, CO 80226.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A - Notice - December 7, 2011
John “Clark†Hanlon, 94,
Palisade, died Dec. 4, 2011, in
Grand Junction.
Rosary will be read 7 p.m.
Friday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
Services will be 9 a.m.
Saturday at St. Ann’s Mission
Catholic Church in Palisade.
Graveside services will be 1 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Sierra Vista Cemetery
in Taos, N.M.
Mr. Hanlon was a funeral
director.
Survivors include his sister,
Margaret Talley of Palisade.
Memorial contributions can
be made to Colorado Talking
Book Library, 180 Sherman
Blvd., Denver 80226.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A - Obituary - December 7, 2011
Clark Hanlon died at St. Mary's
Hospital on December 3rd, 2011,
at the age of 94.
John Clark Hanlon at birth was
named after his maternal grandfather,
John Lewis Clark, in
Madrid, New Mexico, on January
31, 1917. He was the eldest of
five children born to James Harry
Hanlon and Ferrol Lenore (Clark)
Hanlon. He spent his early years in Willard, New Mexico. During
the Depression in 1930, he and his family moved to Taos, New
Mexico, to establish the Hanlon Funeral Home, the first mortuary in
the county. At the age of 16, he realized he was blind in one eye,
and his sight continued to decline until he was completely blind.
After his father died in 1960, he and his mother moved to Albuquerque
where he worked at a lunch counter in the federal building for
ten years, never having missed a day. He was then associated with
Fuller Brush and was the top salesman in his district. Although
blind, he memorized and navigated the city bus system to run his
route, with each customer writing their order for him. He retired due
to arthritic feet, having walked the many miles of his route. In the
early 80’s, he and his mother moved to Grand Junction to be closer
to family. When she became disabled, he lived with his sisters, first
Lenore and then Margaret, until his death.
Clark's hobbies included gardening, audio books, history, and music.
Although blind, he grew the most beautiful gladiolas, luscious
strawberries, and delicious vegetables in his garden until the age of
84. He planted, watered, and weeded by touch. He grew pinto beans
that he harvested and shelled by hand to give as Christmas presents.
He mowed the lawn with a push reel mower until the age of 92 and
rarely left a leaf on the property in the fall.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Lenore and Anna
Marie, and brother Jimmy. He is survived by his sister, Margaret
Talley of Palisade; his uncle and aunt John and Vivian Clark of Albuquerque,
NM; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins to
whom his selfless ways, patience, wisdom, and devotion to God
were an inspiration.
A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, at
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary chapel with a funeral mass at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 10, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Palisade.
Internment will be in Taos, New Mexico.
