Richard Hancock

Richard Ellsworth Hancock, son of the late John Richard and Mary Opal Hood Hancock, was born in Puxico, Missouri on April 30, 1921, and passed away at the Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center in Puxico, Missouri on March 16, 2011, at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 14 days. He was raised in Puxico and attended the Clubb school near Puxico. He was a retired row crop and cattle farmer and was a member of the Duck Creek Missionary Baptist Church near Puxico, Missouri. He had served as Duck Creek Township Tax Collector for fourteen years, drove a road grader for Duck Creek Township, and had been a school bus driver for the Puxico Schools for several years. He was a member of the Puxico Masonic Lodge and enjoyed being with family. On January 15, 1943, he was married to Mary Lavern Kitchen in Acorn Ridge, Missouri. She preceded him in death on March 15, 2004. Surviving are three sons & spouses, Keith & Melba Hancock, Tim & Rhonda Hancock, Todd & Tammy Hancock all of Puxico, Missouri; two daughters & spouses, Debra & Bill Gillean of Fisk, Missouri, Darla & David Crain of Puxico, Missouri; daughter in law, Pat Hancock of Puxico, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren, Brian, Jaime, Richie, Ben, Brenna, Sophia, Timothy & Emerson Hancock, Jackie Wilkerson, Beth Stewart, Shellie Yarbro, William Gillean, Rachel Arnold, Brandi & David Crain; twelve great grandchildren, Jordi, Elexa, Jensen, Brendan, Blake, Jaden, Devon, Avery, Addison, Ethan, Elise and Aiden. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Diane Hancock; one son, Larry Hancock; and one sister, Pauline Hendrix. Visitation will be Friday, March 18, 2011, after 5:00 PM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 19, 2011, at 11:00 AM at the Duck Creek Missionary Church near Puxico with the Rev. Ray Placher of Puxico and Bro. David Edwards of Poplar Bluff, Missouri officiating. Interment will be in the Duck Creek Cemetery near Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements.