Sue "Suzie" Hankins

Sue "Suzie" Hankins, 92 of Kearney passed away Friday, July 31, 2026 at her home surrounded by family. Memorial services will be 10:00 am Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the Kearney First Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to MONA or to P.E.O. Chapter EG. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Sue Ann Spray was born in Crawford NE, Feb 21st, 1934. As she grew, she spent time at the pool, at the cabin, climbing the buttes - her stories were often rebellious ones, going 90 on the back of a motorcycle or wearing jeans with boots(!). She was active in school activities including drum majorette and graduated from Crawford High school as salutatorian in 1952. Suzie attended Colorado A&M where she obtained a bachelors in teaching in 1956. She played all kinds of sports and was invited to play on a professional basket ball team. She taught Physical Education in Worland then Torrington WY, and was also head of the cheerleading squad. It was there that she taught the girls from the Hankins family and one night at the State Line met the love of her life, Berry Rae Hankins. They were married in Crawford in 1963 and made their home in Colorado Springs where they were blessed with two girls, Holly Berryann (66) and Samantha Elizabeth (67). The family moved to McCall, ID in 1970 and Suzie was involved in JC's, taught Sunday school at the Congregational Church and supported Berry in every aspect of community life and family living. The family moved to Torrington WY in 1975 where she continued to be involved with the church with the choir, Sunday school and bible study. She lead a Campfire girls group, taught tole painting and raised the girls. After a divorce in 1979, 1980 brought a move to Kearney NE where she made her home for the remaining years of her life. She was very active at the First Presbyterian Church, serving in various roles: Deacon, choir member, Sunday school teacher, bell choir and many other committees and activities. She was a student at Kearney Sate college and worked at Calvin T Ryan Library until her retirement. Throughout her life she cherished her membership in the sisterhood of P.E.O. She was also librarian and Docent at MONA and a member of Kearney Artist Guild. Suzie was a lifelong learner, avid reader, traveler, artist, crafter, teacher, confidant and friend to so many. She loved animals, travelling, and flowers. She loved nature and the sky's brilliant stars. She loved history and she loved her home in the buttes, Crawford NE. She instilled in us family values, manners and kindness, and the most important thing she learn from her life, she taught us to love. Suzie was preceded in death by her parents, Eldon and Betty Spray, her only husband Berry Hankins, her brother Johnny Spray and her sister, Mary (Spray) Phelps. She is survived by her daughters, Holly Hankins and Samantha (Hankins) Leibhart, son-in-law Scott Leibhart. Grandchildren: Kara Godard (Lincoln), Sadie Florez-Becker (Dan) of Waterloo, IA, Jesse Florez (Emily) of Wood River, Brianna Hankins of Omaha, Jacob Florez (Brittany) of Sumner, Lee Martin (Ashley) of Omaha, Cycelie Florez (Nathan) of Crawford, Hannah Leibhart (Larry) of Kearney and Rex Leibhart (Kimmy) of Missouri. Great grandchildren: Tory, Katherine, Dante, Lyla, Rhythm, Rhapsody, Treble, Tajh, Tatum, Marlee, Irie, Mary, Michael, River, Jaxson, Cattie-Brie, Lilianna, Jay, Prosephonie, Maka and Kakashi.

Sue "Suzie" Hankins

February 21, 1934 - July 31, 2026