September 1, 1927 – January 20, 2025
Obituary
A reception and celebration of life for Charles A. (Chuck) Hancock will be held Thursday, January 23 at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches with the Reverend Lorraine Brown officiating.
Mr. Hancock died January 20, 2025 in Nacogdoches surrounded by his family. He was born to C. G. and Lucille (Dorsey) Hancock in Garrison, Texas in 1927. He graduated from Timpson High School in 1945. After serving in the United States Army, Chuck attended Texas Christian University and Stephen F. Austin State University where he met and married the love of his life, the late Mavis Christopher, in 1947. The two were inseparable for 61 years until her death.
After their marriage, Chuck and Mavis relocated to Houston where he began a radio and advertising career with stints at NBC and radio station KPRC. Buoyed by his growing popularity as a large market radio personality, Chuck parlayed that recognition into a short political career. In 1953, he returned to East Texas and Nacogdoches and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. His term in public service was active, noted locally for his work to create the state land lease that provided property for Raguet Elementary School. It was also under the 53rd Legislature that the Farm-to-Market Road program was established in the state along with the first toll road in Texas, the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike. Rather than seek another term, Chuck returned to radio, becoming a very recognizable voice on stations KDET, KSFA, KEEE, KJCS and later television station KTRE, while also serving as a bi-vocational pastor for several area churches, including Bethany, Shady Grove and Chireno Baptist Churches. During those years he was also active in the community as a member of the Kiwanis Club and as President of the Nacogdoches Dragons Athletic Booster Club. In 1973, Mavis and Chuck became partners in a new venture, Hancock Advertising Agency. The company today is in its 52nd year.
Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers Jim Hancock, Bud Hancock, Calvin Hancock and sister Tommie Hudson Bass.
He is survived by brother George Hancock and wife Laura of The Woodlands and sisters Frances Yarborough Williams of Center and Patricia Pratt and husband Buddy of San Augustine, daughter Deb and husband Bob Stewart (whom Chuck loved dearly) and children Mike Stewart of Denver, Becky Stewart and husband Bill Mrowczynski of Naples, FL, Nathan Stewart of Little Rock, Dan Stewart of Wichita Falls, Clarinda Stewart of Austin, Sarah Camacho and husband Matthew of Indianapolis, IN, Matt Hayos of Austin and Aaron Hayos of San Francisco and Munich Germany; by daughter Suzi Arthofer of Longview, son Chris Hancock and wife Cindy of Nacogdoches, grandchildren Allyson Nolan and husband Brian of Nacogdoches, Jen Hancock and wife Cassie of Santa Fe, NM, Mary Sieber and husband Bryan of Big Sandy and great grandchildren including Bri Nolan, Nori Kile, Wyatt Sieber, Bennett Sieber and Savannah Sieber.
The family asks that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches.