Stella Gay Walker Hancock

Early on the morning of Tuesday December 16th , 2014 our Heavenly Father welcomed home our wonderful mother and one of His choicest angels after a battle with an aggressive brain cancer. Stella Gaye Walker Hancock is now in the presence of our Lord and enjoying embraces from her loving parents and other loved ones who have gone before. Mom was born in Rigby, ID on March 23, 1954 to Donna and Ray Walker and was one of five siblings. Growing up mom loved to sing, dance, and play guitar. According to her siblings she was everyone’s favorite, at least in her eyes… Later in her teen years she met her first love Kevin Hancock and they started a family. They were together for nearly thirty years and raised four children before divorcing. Mom was a hard worker and while raising four children had many accomplishments. She was an office manager for many years at a very successful dental office and later used her financial experience gained from the dental office to gain employment as a loan officer in the finance department of automotive dealers. Mom’s true joy came from being in the service of others which is why it came as no surprise that mom became a licensed massage therapist and provided a great healing service to many. Mom instilled the value of hard work and education and helped her four children gain numerous college degrees. Her love of music brings many memories of singing in station wagons on our long drives across the country, mom loved singing to Crystal Gayle, Cher, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. She was a loving and doting mother who could always be counted on for long talks, and loving embraces. Mom loved attending the many sporting events of her children, dance recitals, plays, playing games, and reading. As wonderful of a mother as she was, Mom was an even better grandmother who loved to spend time with her grandchildren and spoil them with kisses, squeezes, and “sugars”. Mom loved it when her grandchildren came over for sleep overs and always had big pancake breakfasts ready for little bellies. All of her grandchildren loved “GG” (Gramma Gaye). Mom touched the lives of many people we know about and countless others we don’t with her love, grace, beauty, and endless charity. She will be forever missed. Gaye is survived by her siblings: Jeff Walker, Brad Walker, Becky Webster, and Maryanne Walker. She is survived by her children and their families: Hollie Hancock and Dennis Woodruff, parents of Delanie; Jason Hancock and Masato Kaneko; Zachary and Suzanne Hancock, parents of Easton, Gabe, Drew, and Rex; Wende and Mike Long. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2014, at the Rigby 4th Ward L.D.S. Church (401 W. 1st S.). Family will visit with friends Sunday evening 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, and Monday at the church 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.