Patty Lou Farrens Hancock, 93, of Tekamah, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.
Born February 15, 1931, in rural Burt County to Henry Miller Farrens and Maxine Carol Abbott Farrens, Patty grew up on the Gumbo before moving to the hills northwest of Tekamah in 1945. She graduated from Tekamah High School in 1949, attended Wayne State for one year, and taught country school for two years.
On March 28, 1953, she married Richard E. Hancock, sharing 54 years of marriage before his passing in May 2017.
A distinguished Master Gardener and flower show judge, Patty served on the Nebraska Federated Garden Club Board beginning in the early 1960s, including terms as State President (1981-1983) and Rocky Mountain Regional Director (1987-1989). She served on the National Board for ten years and as District 13 Director of Federated Garden Clubs and Omaha Council President. The Hancock Home Farm, where the family moved in 1960, was recognized as a privately owned State Arboretum.
Patty was also a published poet, using proceeds from her two poetry collections to fund garden club scholarships. She taught Sunday School at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah, served as Worthy Matron of the Herman Order of the Eastern Star, and was active in her local Extension Club and the Nebraska State Arboretum Board.
Survivors include children Jackie (Jack) Sterns, Joyce (Fred) Top, and Jeff (Cora) Hancock; daughter-in-law Sharon Hancock; eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; son John Hancock; parents Henry and Carol Farrens; brother Vaughn Farrens; granddaughter Stephanie Vittitoe; and great-granddaughter Sophia Biltoft.
Services will be held at a later date.
Her parting thought was: “God grant me flowers now for my cutting basket because I sure won’t enjoy them on my casket.”
NAMES LISTED IN THIS REPORT:
Parents: Henry Miller Farrens Maxine Carol Abbott Farrens
Spouse: Richard E. (Dick) Hancock
Children: Jackie (Jack) Sterns Joyce (Fred) Top Jeff (Cora) Hancock John Hancock (deceased)
Siblings: Vaughn Farrens (deceased)
Extended Family: Eleven grandchildren (unnamed except for):
- Stephanie Vittitoe (deceased)
Twelve great-grandchildren (unnamed except for):
- Sophia Biltoft (deceased)
Family Connections Mentioned: Sharon Hancock (daughter-in-law, widow of John) Jack Sterns (son-in-law, Jackie’s husband) Fred Top (son-in-law, Joyce’s husband) Cora Hancock (daughter-in-law, Jeff’s wife)
Also Mentioned: Grandmother Farrens (referenced in story about rose bush)
