Edward “Ed” Emilian Hanley III

SEDONA, Ariz. – Edward “Ed” Emilian Hanley III, 88, died on Sept. 11, 2023 in Cottonwood, Ariz.

He was born to Florence and Edward Hanley II in Gardiner on May 27, 1935. The oldest of 10 children, Ed grew up with his wonderful siblings under the loving care of his parents and a community of beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He graduated Gardiner High School in 1953, attended St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., and earned his B.S. in Business at the University of New Hampshire.

He joined the United States Air Force in 1954, where he became an exceptional pilot and loyal defender of the country he loved. Edward flew multiple, dangerous missions during the Vietnam War, during which he and his family lost his fellow pilot and the family’s beloved son and brother, Terry Hanley. Stationed in Tehran as it fell in 1979, Ed remained on duty, in the face of grave danger, to defend the United States of America.

Ed and first wife Janice (Hanley) Desjardins raised four children whom they taught to appreciate the diversity of our world -living in many places during his military tours- from Portsmouth, N.H. to Amarillo, Texas to Burns Flat, Okla., and across the world to Adana, Turkey and Tehran, Iran.

After retiring from the Air Force, Ed and his family moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he flew for Antilles Airboats and enjoyed sailing and fishing. In 1989, Ed moved with second wife, Adrienne (Creanza) Hanley, to Sedona, Ariz. They built their home together, using old bridge timbers and decorating its doors with natural and found objects. Ed’s happy brood of hens lived comfortably in a beautiful coop Ed built into the red rocks, laying beautiful blue eggs that Ed served, sunny side up, to the many, many guests who visited over the years. Ed continued to fly all types of airplanes and raced vintage Porches with his pals, the “Red Rock Racers” to whom he remained close even after he stopped racing.

Ed mentored many young family members and friends, sometimes guiding them in their interests to fly, sometimes just helping them find their way when they needed direction.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Adrienne (Creanza) Hanley; children Sharon (Tim) Disher, JJ Hanley, Edward (Rainey) Hanley IV, and Christopher (Kerri) Hanley; siblings Barbara (d. Dick) Lechette, Alicia (d. Kim) Fraser, Jeff (Sally) Hanley, John (Linda) Hanley; grandchildren Alison (John) Orr, Brett (Tory) Disher, Matthew (Megan) Disher, Christopher Mlynarski, Timothy Mlynarski, Rosalina (John) Lord, Luciana (Tyler) Sullivan, Ariana Hanley, Ethan Hanley, Olivia Hanley; and seven great-grandchildren.

Ed was predeceased by his parents; and siblings Terry Hanley, Tony Hanley, Cheryl Hamilton, Steve Hanley, and Jay Hanley.

A funeral mass will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 30 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Gardiner, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Gardiner.