Haverhill, NH -- Hiram Henry Hanson, Sr. 81, of Lummoxville Road, died March 15, 2009, at his residence. He was born in Warren, NH, January 24, 1928 the son of Bert and Bertha May (Wallace) Hanson. Hiram remembered the Depression and how he ate hedgehog meat for supper when he was about 8 years old. He remembered the pink snow here, from the Dust Bowl days, when top soil from the West was blown here from across the country. He grew up in Haverhill and married a local girl. She was 16 and he was 22. He raised his family of 6 children, who got to help him with his acre garden to supplement the meals. As children, they were taken to local races in Bradford, Waterford, and Barre, VT. He loved the races! As adults, his children Wendy and Curt took him to the race tracks in Groveton and North Woodstock. In the 70 s to mid 2008 he enjoyed using his CB to chat with friends and to report the daily weather to his CB friends. He kept the temperature, snow, and rainfall amounts for most of those years, from all who could reach him over the air. In spring and summer months, for many years, he was an avid old bottle digger, he had a huge collection. Some were pretty and very interesting and some were local to the area. Hiram always loved cats. They followed him like a puppy dog. He weeded his huge garden at night, after a full day at work, and his cat would go up and down the rows with him, sometimes sitting on his back as he was bent down to pull the weeds. He hated weeds in the garden as much as he loved his cats! His children all remember the local to NH fall foliage rides they took up north, to show them the beginning of the Connecticut River at the Connecticut Lakes and the northern forest; or they went to see the sights around the Old Man of the Mountains, making a whole day of it. As the children married and had children of their own, there were sometimes 5 to 6 cars in a convoy on these trips. They visited other places also even into VT and NY in later years. They remember him working hard all his life and installing his work ethic to all of them to show up on time, work your best, and pay your bills, but most of all he taught them to love their families, which he did until the end. He married Julia Arlene Boutin on June 30, 1950 and she predeceased him on February 17, 1985. He was also predeceased by two brothers Wesley and Everett Elliott. Survivors include four daughters Rose Hanson of Haverhill, Rebecca Freudenberg and husband Andy of North Haverhill, Mary Baillargeon and husband David of Haverhill, and Wendy Marsh and husband Dan of North Haverhill; two sons Hiram Butch Hanson and wife Bonnie, and Curtis Hanson and wife Mary both of Haverhill; ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. At Mr. Hanson s request there will be no public service.