Cherie Marie Parkins Hansen

Cherie Marie Parkins Hansen, the daughter of Garvin Ferree Parkins and Patricia Ann McKinley was born April 2, 1955, in Newport, Rhode Island. She passed away in her American Fork Utah home on May 1, 2026.

Her life was not easy but her faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ was of great strength to her and her testimony and prayers carried her through her life.

She worked in several factories where she wound coils and packed pickles in a Delmonte factory, and in a factory where she built watches. She worked as a nanny. These jobs were in California where her family lived. They helped her earn money to attend Ricks College after graduating from high school.

She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University and graduated with degrees in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education in 1982

At Ricks she was a member of the Valkyries Service Club, She was a dorm president and a member of the Standards Committee where she worked with Henry B. Eyring the president of Ricks. She received the Leadership Scholarship for her second year at Ricks.

She served a mission in Glasgow Scotland and Belfast Ireland.

She served in the MTC for almost five years.

She taught in and Relief Society for twenty years and in Primary for twenty years. She taught Honey Tree Preschool in her own home as a young mother. She taught Kindergarten in Springville.

She married Cecil Ray Hansen on September 14, 2012, he passed away October 31, 2015.

She is survived by her two sisters: Delon and Penny Christine Hughes of American Fork, Utah Robert and Debra Lee Lowry who are currently serving a mission St. George, Utah. She is survived by her daughters Katie Christine and Luke Folkes, Mona, UT and Mary Ann and Adam David Leavitt, Maryland, and her sons John Paul Story, Michael McKay Parkins, Daniel T. Parkins and Meghan Audette, Joseph Miles Parkins. Survived by her grandchildren Parker Luke, MaKayla Christine, Brooklyn Belle, Claire Marie, Lara Chelom, Lincoln David, Mannix Garvin Parkins and Sara.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 9, 2026 in the American Fork 16th Ward, 507 West 700 North, American Fork, Utah at 11:00 Am. A viewing will be held Friday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, American Fork, Utah and on Saturday at the church from 9:45-10:45 AM. Please come to share you love and celebrate Cherie's wonderful life.