James Ray Hancock

Jim (JR) Hancock, 88, was born in Eastland, Texas to K. D. and Olga Buchanan Hancock. He passed away in Waco, Texas on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

He was a graduate of the 1956 class of Whitney High School. He moved to Whitney during his senior year and while riding the bus, he noticed a young girl where he saved a seat for her everyday (and always in the back of the bus). He married that girl, Marguerite Overton, on April 12, 1957. He loved to participate in debate placing 2nd at district his senior year.He first settled his family in Mesquite Texas while working with Lone Star Gas. He was then hired on as a Dallas Policeman. After working as a Dallas Policeman, he transitioned to the Dallas Fire Department. He reached the rank of Driver Engineer and loved to drive the snorkel truck. He enjoyed nothing more than being at the top of the snorkel ladder, full extended, with a hose pouring water onto a fire. He worked most of his years with the DFD at station 19. He was part of the DFD softball league and loved the competition. He made his way on the front-page of the Dallas Morning News by using the snorkel ladder to restring flag poles. He loved being a fireman and all the friendships he developed. On his days off from the fire station, he started P&H Installation with a fellow firefighter installing ornamental iron on houses and businesses.He was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. He made many trips to the Dissler Ranch in South Texas hunting white-tail deer and gathering sheep off the mountain on horseback. He also loved to be fishing on the Guadalupe River around Victoria, TX, trotlining for “yellow cats”. He reloaded his own ammo and collected Texans brand reloaders. He loved hiking in Big Bend National Park.

He moved his family back to Whitney, Texas, in 1979. He retired from the Dallas Fire Department in 1989 at the age of 50. In 1999, he married Helen Higgins in Las Vegas, Nevada. During his retirement, he built his current home from the ground up with his brother, Mickey, and son Ray Dan. He enjoyed working with his brother doing handyman work in their business adventure – Piddlin’ Repairs.We all got to see the softer side of him when grandson Cade Nelson was born. As soon as Cade could walk, they became running buddies. He enjoyed having a drink and listening to bluegrass music. He was a little on the tough side but if you ever heard him call you “booger”, you knew you were loved.

JR was preceded in death by his mother, Olga, father, K. D. Hancock, Sr., older half-brother K. D. Hancock, Jr., sister Barbara Mulcahy, and second wife Helen Hancock.

He is survived by Marguerite Newell (Mother of his children), Ray Dan Hancock, Sherri Hancock, Mark Hancock (and wife Alice), Daisha Nelson; grandchildren Cody Clinard, Chase Hancock, Cade Nelson, and Zion Nelson; sister Margret Pearce and very special loving nieces and nephews along with cherished extended family, Tommy Quinn and Scott McCown.

A special thank you to Doctor Henderson’s office for being so friendly and caring to our dad. Shout out to Visiting Angels of Waco.A celebration of life will be held in October.Memorials: Whitney Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 2050, Whitney, TX 76692