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HANCOCK, WILLIAM H. "BILL" 1923-2014 William H. "Bill" Hancock, age 90, a resident of Belen, NM passed away on Friday, January 10, 2014. In the last two years of his life, my father often said, "I have lived a good life. I had a good family. I loved my family." He repeated this phrase often, as it was the truth of who he was in life, a man who committed fully to family and to work, and who was admired for his leadership and commitment in his work environments both in the U.S. Navy, as well as for 30 years at El Paso Natural Gas Company in Gallup, New Mexico. And, he was the quintessential father, both for his two daughters, as well as for other children who wanted to tag along, needed a bicycle fixed or someone to listen to their stories. One recently shared that he really didn't care for fishing, or for fish, but he would go anywhere with my father. Bill Hancock was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 8, 1923. His father, William Jay Hancock, of the Mormon faith, was in the precious metals business. His mother, Catherine McLaughlin Hancock, a Catholic, was a teacher who helped open schools to children of the mining families in Raton, New Mexico, where Bill, his brother Charles and his sister Marie grew up. Bill played basketball and football for Raton, High School, where he graduated in 1942 and soon after entered World War II through service in the U.S. Navy. Bill also served in the Korean War. Bill met and married Ann Frances Pavletich in Raton. They had two daughters, Mary Ellen Hancock, who lives in New York City and Belen, and Ann Frances Hancock-Hunt, who died in 1990. At the time of his wife's death in 2011, Bill and Ann had been married for 65 years. They had enjoyed a long and happy retirement in Belen, where they were parishioners of Our Lady of Belen Parish. Bill helped organize and play in "the Gaggle" at Tierra Del Sol Country Club in Rio Communities. A life-long golfer, Bill, played golf for 30 years with the New Mexico Seniors. Bill Hancock is preceded in death by his mother, Catherine; his father, William Jay; his sister, Marie; his wife, Ann; and his daughter, Ann Frances. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ellen; his brother, Charles; his sister-in-law, Catherine; nine nieces; and a nephew, as well as numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. The family wishes to thank Bill's friends and his neighbors; his caregivers Donna, Laura, Pam and Dan; his doctors and nurses at the V.A. Hospital in Albuquerque, especially in the GU Department, as well as the V.A.'s amazing Geriatrics At-Home Primary Care Program; Belen's Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels Program; Sol Amor Hospice Group; Our Lady of Belen Parish and Romero Funeral Home. Funeral services are being arranged through Romero Funeral Home. Services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 15, beginning with a Visitation at 10:00 a.m. with a Rosary to be recited at 10:30 a.m. and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. A Memorial Mass and Interment will be forthcoming in Raton. Bill Hancock achieved an exceptional legacy: he lived a good life and he loved his family. He was a wonderful father, friend, and neighbor, and he will forever be remembered and loved by all who knew him. Sign Bill's online tribute at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM
        Published on: Sun January 12, 2014