Steve Hancock

Larry Stephen “Steve” Hancock was born January 31, 1948, in Copperhill, to Wilburn Hancock and Lucy (Wilson) Hancock. Steve passed away peacefully in Copperhill, March 23, 2021, due to congestive heart failure.

He married his soulmate Rita (Mull) Hancock, in June of 1966. They had two kids together, Rodney (Daryl) Hancock and Barbara (Hancock) Murray. Rita was the love of his life. She is the only one that could keep him in line, and she never failed to put a smile on his face, even in the hardest times. He happily spent his whole life raising hell with her, building a family with her and loving her with all his heart.

Steve started working at a young age to help provide for his widowed mother and wasn’t scared of a hard day’s work. After finding out his first born was on the way (Daryl), Steve landed a mining job with Frontier Kemper, where he spent the next 25 years. He prided himself on being a miner, a mucker and a mean (explicit). The mines moved his family all over the country until they landed in Vernal, Utah. In Vernal, Steve and Rita opened a furniture store called “The Oak House.” The Oak House was the home base for the Hancock clan. It was the definition of a family business and a first job for all the grandkids. 

After successfully running their business for 26 years and raising five grandkids, Steve and Rita decided to retire and return home to Copperhill, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Steve was a self-proclaimed Tennessee country boy. He spent many nights in the Polk County Jail, for fighting or just simply raising hell. He loved his daughter’s (Barb) cooking and harassing his son Daryl. He was world-renowned for his hatred of cellphones, not holding back his opinion and a knack for telling it like it is. He always told you the truth, even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. He always had a lesson to teach and a story to tell. He was the toughest guy you’d meet, with the biggest heart. He never turned down an opportunity to help someone in need, like hiring homeless men to work at The Oak House. If he wasn’t pinching you or thumping you with his ring, he didn’t like you. Everyone always knew where you stood with him. He liked you or he didn’t, it was black or white.

Steve leaves behind a very dysfunctional family that loved him more than words can describe. His grandkids saw him as a mentor, best friend, protector and advice giver. We all knew if times were tough, he had our back no matter what. We will all miss his advice in the hard times, his twisted sense of humor and his sloppy cheek kisses. Life will not be the same without him.

He will be sorely missed and survived by his brother, Don Hancock; sister, Patricia (Hancock) Elliott; children, Rodney (Daryl) Hancock and Barbara (Hancock) Murray; daughter-in-law, Malanie (Hadlock) Hancock; son-in-law, Gary Murray; grandchildren, Elizabeth Murray, Bodey Hancock, Mckenzie (Hancock) Lammert, Jacob Murray and Joshua Hancock (the favorite); and great-grandchildren, Jace Hancock, Brooklyn Murray, Delanie Lammert and Evangeline Hancock.

He was proceeded in death by his mother Lucy (Wilson) Hancock and his father Wilburn Hancock.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held, April 3, 2021, at his house, 990 Pleasant Hill Road, Murphy, North Carolina. 

Condolences may be sent to the family  online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.