William Lawrence Hanavan

William L. Hanavan, 63, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes in his home on December 21, 2025. Known as “Bill” to his friends and as “Billy” to his family, he was born on October 11, 1962 to parents Mary and William A. Hanavan. He was the youngest of four siblings joining his older sister Karen and brothers Michael and Kevin. He lived his entire life in the Kansas City metro area.

Upon graduating from Grandview Senior School in 1981, he worked various jobs over his lifetime, mostly in the service industry. He was one of the managers who opened the Ponderosa Steakhouse in Grandview’s Truman Corners shopping center in the mid-1980’s and remained there for many years. Most recently he worked for Big Lots at their Blue Springs, MO store until his retirement, making many friends along the way.

With his friendly and accepting (and somewhat mischievous) personality, Bill made many friends who remained close to him during his life, along with caring deeply for his family, particularly his parents and siblings. He had an uncanny ability to bond with almost anyone with his dry wit and sarcastic view of the world. He often saw and found solutions to problems that others overlooked. He was an avid animal lover, from his parents’ labrador Brutus to his pet rats Troy, Zip, and Gizmo, and near the end of his life his loyal beagles Chipper and Sadie.

Bill is survived by his Aunt Ruth Franklin of Pleasant Hill, MO and his nephew Steven Bellah of Kansas City, MO – along with many friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents as well as each of his older siblings, along with his life partner Chad LaBerge and childhood best friend Beth Carhill.

He brought a gentle energy to the world and that it desperately needed and will be forever missed.