Tanya Mauriete Hamilton passed away on September 9, 2022. She was born in Austin, Texas on February 21, 1946, to Ivan and Mauriete Williams, also of Austin. She completed her early education in Austin and attended the University of Texas where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She married Dudley Deen on August 15, 1964. They were divorced in 1991. She continued her education and graduated suma cum laude from Texas Weslyan University in 1967 in Fort Worth, Texas. After staying home sixteen years with her two children, Allison Sterrett, Rockwall, Texas, and Elizabeth Davis, Lawrence, she became a life-long special educator of 35 years including special education coordinator in Lawrence, Kansas for 10 years
followed by special educator at Leawood Middle School in the Blue Valley School District. Tanya also received two Master degrees in 1987 in Educational Leadership and 1991 in Behavior Disorders from Washburn University. Tanya retired from Blue Valley School in 2016 and enjoyed the retirement life. She loved wintering in Florida, and, of course, grandchildren! Tanya is survived by her husband, John, her two daughters and three grandchildren: Mason Davis, Derby, Kansas; Mackinzi and Kassidi Sterrett, Rockwall, Texas.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Topeka Country Club, 2700 SW Buchanan St, Topeka, KS 66611, on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 3:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made in Tanya’s honor to the Washburn University Foundation 1729 SW MacVicar Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.