Thomas D. "Tom" Hancock

Thomas D. "Tom" Hancock, Jr., 62, of Sandcastle Dr., Nebo, NC died Thursday, May 11, 2006 at Valdese General Hospital following a brief illness. He was born August 27, 1943 in Gaffney, SC, and was a son of the late Thomas DeCosta Hancock, Sr. and Sarah Branton Hancock. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Myra "Ah Mom" Branton. Tom was a graduate of Glen Alpine High School, and then attended NC State University. He was employed with Mallonee Surveying for many years. Tom continued working with Mallonee’s successor company, TGS Surveying and Abernathy Associates. Tom worked closely with construction companies and loved handling the details of planning and layout of large construction projects. He was a founding member of the Dysartsville Volunteer Fire Department, and also served with the NC National Guard Morganton unit. He was a member of Glen Alpine United Methodist Church. Tom was an avid outdoorsman and naturalist. He loved woodworking including making furniture and other crafts.

He is survived by his wife, Janice Stewart Hancock of the home; sisters, Sharon Mull and husband, Dewey, of Glen Alpine, and Myra Brown and her dear friend, Dr. George Krebs, of Morganton; a niece, Teresa Shackleford, her husband, Bob, and their son, Will, of Greensboro, NC; a nephew, Branton Brown of Morganton; his aunt, Pearl Hancock of Gaffney, SC; cousins, Jerry and Brenda; sisters-in-law, Kaye Stewart Irvin of Nebo, and Brenda Simmons and husband, Sidney, of Morganton, and their daughters, Kimberly Baker, her husband, Scott, and their son, Elliot, and Kristy Price, her husband, Mike, and their daughter, Emma.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 13, 2006 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. Sid Houk officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Saturday one hour before the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dysartsville Volunteer Fire Department, 9184 NC 226 South, Nebo, NC 28761.