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Tuscola Cemetery, Taylor County, Texas |
Abilene Reporter-News, Friday, August 23, 2013 |
Obituary: Jack W. Hancock |
OVALO -- Jack W. Hancock, 98, passed away Wednesday, August 22,
2013, at his ranch in Ovalo TX). A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on
Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the First Baptist Church, Tuscola, with burial to
follow in the Tuscola Cemetery. Pastor Dewayne Bush officiating, directed by
Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
Friday, August 24, 2013 at the funeral home.
Jack was born November 12, 1914 in Sherman, Texas. His parents were Sarah
Katherine (Riley) and Louis Norman Hancock. There were seven Children in the
family: Muriel, Ruth, Eugene, George, Jack, Katherine and Billy. Shortly after
Jack was born, the family moved to a farm bordered by Chateau Creek six miles
outside of Sherman. There he learned his love for agriculture.
Jack began school in a one-room school named Provience. His teachers were his
two older sisters, Muriel and Ruth Hancock. He must have been a rounder because
once he crawled out the window of the school and ran home. When Ruth got home
that afternoon, she told their mother that she had to make Jack mind at school.
Who would know at that time that he too would become a teacher?
By the time he was 10 years old, the family had moved to West Texas in search of
a new beginning. His family lived first in Redwine, but soon moved to New Home
where he worked on his dad's farm. He graduated from New Home high school in
1933.
Jack attended and graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a degree
in Agriculture. While there he worked at the Tech dairy, rising at 4:30 a.m. to
milk 15 cows before going to school His senior year he became the student
assistant to Dr. Harbough, Professor of Veterinary Medicine.
After graduation, Jack became the manager and butcher for the New Home Coop
Cold-storage Locker Plant. He met and married Frankie Lee Straley on June 8,
1941. She was teaching at New Home at the time. They had two girls; Joy Kay and
Jackie Sue.
When Jack left the locker plant, he was appointed instructor in the National
Youth Association Program as instructor of Farm Equipment at Tech. He taught
agriculture and science for public school as well as to GI's after WW II. He
taught Sunday School and regular school for appriximately 60 years.
Jack served his country as a Naval Officer during World War II. He received his
commission at Columbia University in New York. He joined the Navy V6 Program and
taught Recognition (of ships and aircraft) to new recruits at Bitter Creek, VA
and Green Bay, WI. Later he served on the APA5 Barnett during the Battle of
Okinawa as recognition and assistant gunnery officer. He was discharged in New
Orleans on December 15, 1945, having served his country three years
When WW II was over, Jack returned to teaching, farming and ranching. For the
rest of his life, he had a hand in agriculture and was a banker with Production
Credit for several years.
After the death of his first wife, Frankie, Jack met and married the second love
of his life; Keva Lou Hays Holley on January 6, 1967. For seven years they
ranched, while serving God at home and abroad.
Besides his teaching and military service, he was a Mason for almost 50 years
and member of the Lions Club 50 yrs. As a member of the Taylor County Farm
Bureau Association, he served as presiden. As Co-chairman he worked to establish
the benefits program for farmers. In Taylor County, he served on the Livestock
Show committee when the Coliseum was built and was General Superintendent of the
Show and Lamb division at various times. As a School Board member of Jim Ned ISD,
he served as president and secretary at the time Jim Ned was established through
consolidation of South Taylor and Lawn.
A countless number of young Girl Scouts knew him as Ranger Jack at Camp Booth
Oaks where he served as camp manager for the West Texas Girl Scout Council. In
1997 in Forsan, he was appointed to the Forsan City Council for a short time. He
served as deacon in the Baptist Church for over 60 years.
As a world traveler, he saw 44 states and traveled to the Philippines, China,
Japan, Israel, Egypt, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, Greece, Canada and Brazil.
He lived a long and healthy life, never losing his ability to speak publicly
with humor and intelligence. He shared his war experiences with the students of
Forsan High School when he was 92, and received the Veteran of the Month award
on his 93rd birthday in Big Spring, where he spoke over an hour about his life,
the war, and his God.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, counselor, and a real friend to
man. Most importantly, he loved his God. He has said again and again, "I met the
greatest man who ever lived when I was 12 years old, and I have always tried to
follow His footsteps; that man is Jesus Christ."
He was an exceptional man who knew how to live. His family and friends will miss
him greatly and will be challenged to match his example.
Jack was preceded in death by parents, wife, Frankie Lee Straley Hancock, wife,
Keva Lou Hays Holley Hancock, his six siblings and his son-in-law Tommie Wayne
Henry.
He is survived by his three daughters, Joy Kay Vazquez and husband Ernesto
Vazquez of Laredo, Glen Dena Ivie and husband Charles Ivie of Tatum, NM, Jackie
Sue Henry of Ovalo, six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, Tim Griffin
and wife Dina, and children Bailey, Emma and Seaver Hancock of Abilene, Kim
Turner and Husband Chris, and children Jordan and Hunter Jack of Topeka, KS,
Cardo Ernesto Vazquez, and sons Carlos and Andres of Rio Gordo, Spain, Sam
Griffin and wife Stacy, and children Isabel and Hays of Levelland, Mandi Lewis
and husband Eric, and son Hadley of Sherman, John Paul Vazquez and wife Esther
of Sacramento, Ca.
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