James W. Hancock Jr.

1923 - 2019

James W. Hancock, Jr.

Morganfield - James William "Rooster" Hancock, Jr. was born September 12, 1923 to Jim Will and Allie Payne Hancock. He died August 19, 2019 on the same family farm in which he was raised as a man of great Catholic faith. He was baptized and remained a lifelong member at St. Ann Catholic Church. He was a graduate of Morganfield High School Class of 1942 where he developed his love for football that carried with him the remainder of his life. He attended the University of Kentucky before being drafted into the U.S. Army. On November 25, 1944, he married the love of his life, Betty Johnson, and they were blessed to celebrate 67 years of marriage. No one will ever say "James" with the same passion as he was called by his wife. He was the life of the party and was known to "play the jug" with his friends and to dance the night away with his bride, and impressed all his grandchildren with his Donald Duck impression. Rooster was a founding member of the Union County Fair Board in 1949. His favorite duty as a member of the board was supporting the Union County Fair Queen contests. He also served on the board of Old National Bank. In 1991, he was recognized as a Master Conservationist for applying and maintaining 90 percent of all government and voluntary conservation practices on the family farm. He was a proud supporter of Catholic Education, 4-H, the Union County Braves Football team, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the American Legion Griggs Alvey Post #48 for over 70 years. He is preceded in death by wife Betty, sister in law/husband Lu and Lowell Hess, and niece/husband, Sherry and George Drury. He is survived by daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Shouse (Stephen) of Sturgis; sons Jim (Kathy) Hancock & Rick (Mary) Hancock both of Morganfield; sister Marie "Cissie" Clark of Tennessee; brother-in-law Dr. Jack Johnson and wife Margaret Jo Johnson of Louisville. He was known simply as Granddaddy to his beloved grandchildren: John (Leslie) Shouse, Mike (Maria) Shouse, Kelly Shouse, Dr. Laura Hancock Jones, Mark Hancock, Holly (Kirk) Dyer, and Frank Hancock. He has 14 Great Grandchildren: Belle, Will, Kaylee, Kadence, and Kooper Shouse, Abby, Sarah, Lukas, and Jacob Jones, Madison, Allison, and Maxwell Dyer, James Neal and Emmy Hancock. Nieces and Nephews: Jo Lane (Tom) Stroud, Nancy (Steve) Gustin, Cathy (Ray) Hundley, and Mike (Leslie) Johnson. Several Great Niece and Nephews. Funeral service will be 11 AM Thursday 8/22/19 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Morganfield, KY.

Fr. Freddie Byrd will officiate. Visitation will be 4-8 PM Wednesday and 9 AM until service time Thursday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield, KY where prayers will be said at 7 PM Wednesday. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery in Morganfield, KY. Expressions of sympathy made me made to John Paul II Catholic School in Morganfield; St. Anthony's Hospice or charity of your choice.