Troy LaVerl Hansen, 57, was born on 7/4/1965 in Nephi, Utah. He passed away on September 12th, 2022, from injuries sustained doing what he loved best in the very place he loved best—building a campfire up Fairview Canyon. Troy’s mom, Jeri Brady; his sister, Jamie Lynn Mercer and brother-in-law, Bill Mercer; his sister Melanie Bates; and his brother, Jason Mardell (Sarah), spent Troy’s last hours with him at The University of Utah Burn Trauma unit, playing Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Glenn Campbell, and despite the severity of his injuries, he played air guitar to the music, and sang a line from “Folsom Prison Blues,” along with the refrain from “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Even as we’re devastated over losing him far too soon, we all agree that there are worse ways to go than doing what one loves, and there’s no question that he left this world surrounded by every ounce of love we had for him.

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“"He'd give you the shirt off his back and drink all your beer."”

If you knew Troy, you knew his rebellious spirit, but you also knew that his heart was six sizes too big. He loved taking care of people and you’d see him blazing around on his four-wheeler, digging the old ladies out of the snow, or helping with this honey-do, or that little project. When he wasn’t helping all the old ladies in town, the kids were following him around like the Pied Piper. He had a way with kids, and loved his own fiercely—Keirstin Hansen, Alta Mardell, MaKendra Mardell, and Clayton Zeigler. In addition to the siblings that were at his bedside, he was also brother and friend to Codi Sorensen, Angie Hansen Cook, and his adopted brother and sister, Andrew & Jen Bates. He was preceded in death by his brother Wade Hansen, his dad Albert LaVerl ("Red") Hansen, and his good friend, Dolly.

When he wasn’t helping whoever needed it, or hanging out with his best friend, Blake Howcroft, you’d find him fishing, sawing logs, building those beloved campfires, or visiting friend’s camps up on the mountain. Troy’s services were held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Rasmussen Mortuary in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, with a visiting hour at 12:00 pm.