Murray Hanna

Murray Kain Hanna was born on December 28, 1923 in Harbor Springs, Michigan the son of the late Wilma and Elmer Hanna.  Growing up in Harbor Springs he enjoyed the exploring the north woods and adventuring in his canoe in the area around Little Travers Bay where he developed an inquisitive mind and a love of nature.  He was a natural athlete, champion speed skater and was recruited to play football at Alma College where he went as an undergraduate and is a two time inductee to the Alma Athletic Department Hall of Fame.  During the time at Alma College his studies were interrupted when he joined the Army Air Corps during WWII.  Upon returning to Alma to finish school he met his future wife Elizabeth Jane Harrod and was married in 1947. He continued his graduate studies in entomology at Michigan State University.  He worked for the State of Michigan Department of Agriculture as a respected Entomologist and Plant Pathologist from 1951 until his retirement in 1986.  He continued to study insects and write papers on entomological topics until the last paper he coauthored was finished in 2013. He passed away peacefully on March 10, 2016.  He is survived by his daughter Linda Jane Hanna of Covington, GA, his son Thomas Murray Hanna of Durango, CO and his Grandson Robin Murray Horton and Granddaughter-in-law Noreen Barber of Oxford, GA and many nieces and nephews living around the country. A private family service will be held later this summer. If you wish to honor Murray in lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Little Traverse Conservancy, Harbor Springs, MI in his memory.