Ward Lee Hancock

Ward Lee Hancock, of Lewisville, Idaho, passed away at home from an on-going illness on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Ward was born January 19, 1971, in Rexburg, Idaho to Wallace Garen Hancock and Eileen Jones Hancock. Growing up in Lewisville, his best friend was his older brother Benny, who preceded him in death. Ward graduated from Rigby High School in 1989. He married Deidra McAllister in 1990; to this marriage were born two sons, Reese and Rhett. They were later divorced. Ward later married the love of his life and best friend, Sheri’le Sorenson, in May 1996. The marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on August 10, 2010. They had a daughter, Shelese and a son Braxton. Ward was a loving and caring father to them, and to Beau and Shae’le Blackburn, Sheri’le’s children from a previous marriage. Ward was the most loyal husband and father, whose greatest joy was spending time with his wife and children, especially in the great outdoors. Ward had a unique talent for making each child feel special, such as jamming on the guitar and writing music with Reese, having late night intellectual conversations with Rhett, tinkering in the garage on cars or anything that moved with Beau, escorting Shae’le at all important events of her life (escort at Junior Miss Pageant, dancing at her wedding), running errands and lunch dates with 10 year old daughter Shelese, and riding four-wheeler’s with his 6 year old sidekick Braxton, who never left his side. His great passion was his composing and playing music. Throughout his life Ward blessed the lives of other with his loving, caring, and kind demeanor, always willing to reach out a hand to help those in need. Ward is survived by his eternal companion Sheri’le Hancock, of Lewisville, his children Reese and Rhett Hancock, of Boise, Shelese and Braxton Hancock, of Lewisville, Beau (Sierra) Blackburn, of Avino, Italy, Shae’le (Andrew) Arslanian of Nampa, mother Eileen (Nathan) Hawks of Murry, Utah, one half-sister, and two half-brothers. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, March 17, 2011, at the Lewisville 1st Ward LDS Chapel, with Bishop Val Rosenberg, conducting. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m., to 12:45 p.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Iona Cemetery, under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.