Jerry Anderson Hancock, 79, passed away Wednesday, Feb 4. 2015, on his Bucyrus farm.
He was born Jan. 19, 1936, in Roubidoux, son of John Paul and Jessie Doris Holmes Hancock. He and Rethia June Hutsell Hancock were married March 12, 1955.
He accepted the Lord as his savior in his dad’s cornfield. He was a member of Ellis Prairie Baptist Church for many years, serving as Sunday School director and deacon during that time.
He graduated from Houston High School. After marriage, he and his wife moved west for work. He found himself running a dozer skidding logs in the mountains of Idaho and Oregon.
In 1961, he bought the first part of his farm and settled on the prairie. Trading his pick-up for six registered Polled Hereford heifers, he began farming and continued the remainder of his life. He was a truck driver for 30 years with Hirschbach Motor Lines and Midwest Express.
A longtime supporter of the Houston High School FFA Chapter, he gave a heifer to a freshman member every year for 35 years.
He worked with The Gideons International and loved hunting. Walking miles of Kansas stubble fields shooting pheasants was second only to riding horseback in the mountains of Colorado in pursuit of elk. Family fishing trips to Canada or a quick trip to the lake were among the trips he enjoyed.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a half-brother, Donald.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 60 years, June; two sons, Clayton Daniel of Bucyrus and Tony David of Jefferson City; three daughters, Threasa LaRae of Willow Springs, Teri Leanna of Bucyrus and Vicky Delyn of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren; a sister, Margie; three brothers, Ervin, Ralph and Kenneth; and many great- and great-great grandchildren.
Services were Saturday, Feb. 7, at Evans Funeral Home with Pastor Hubert Darter officiating. Burial was in Ellis Prairie Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Gideons. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
