Clara Ilene Hancock, 101, departed this life to be with her Lord and Savior at 2:43 a.m., February 16, 2020 at St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville.
Ilene was born to Arville and Mamie Sylvania (Price) Garman on January 27, 1919, near Dale, Indiana. She was the youngest of "we three girls" and quickly asserted herself as the "tomboy" of the family. She rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse in rural Spencer County for her elementary education and later attended Boonville High School. She signed up for her first Gmail account and Face Timed at age 100.
Ilene married Paul Leslie Hancock in 1944 and they had two children.
Ilene worked at Mead Johnson where she lost her wedding ring in a box of Pablum. She worked at Servel during World War II where she helped produce munitions. She later sold Avon, and later yet, became the first female butcher at Simpson Food Fair. She also volunteered with the Red Cross making bandages for cancer patients.
Ilene attended a tent revival in 1952 where she was baptized by an itinerant preacher by the name of Chief White Feather. Her attendance and baptism occurred without serious forethought, but later that evening, she realized that her life had been changed. Her life's endeavor became a serious and successful effort to live her faith. She attended Central Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, St. James UMC, and later in her life, Morningside Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Ilene loved all children without exception, but none more than her children and grandchildren. Her happiest years were when her children were in school and their friends spent time in her home. She loved to cook, and she was especially known for her macaroni and cheese. Her favorite pastime was fishing, and she never saw a lake she didn't want to fish.
Ilene was preceded in death by her parents, her twin sisters, Lillian Marie Hogan and Thelma Mae Puder Krasner, brother, Wilbur Garman, and daughter-in-law, Brenda Ann Heil Hancock.
Surviving Ilene are her son, Jerry Paul Hancock of Taylorsville KY, her daughter, Karen Ruth (Thom) Mominee of Wadesville IN, bonus daughter, Stacey Annette (Rob) Sutton, grandson Jeff Paul (Abby) Hancock of Brandenburg KY, granddaughters Christie Lou Hancock of Mount Washington KY, Jennifer Lesley King (Rob) Strobel of Batesville IN and Stephanie Renée (Mark Goldsworthy) King of Roscoe IL, bonus grandchildren Cliff Mominee (Carrie)of Evansville IN, Gretchen Mominee of Sacramento, CA, great granddaughters, Brittany Lynn (Ethon) Sellings of Mount Washington KY and Kaylyn Mominee of Evansville, nieces, Doris Jean Hogan of Boonville IN and Betty Garman Raines of Ocala, FL, nephews, Glenn (Kathy) Puder of Evansville, Eric Miller of Evansville, and her fur baby, Angel.
Visitation for Ilene will begin at 12:00 pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2020 with a Life Celebration at 1:00 pm, at BOONE FUNERAL HOME EAST CHAPEL, 5330 Washington Avenue in Evansville with burial to follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of the St. Vincent ICU for their sensitive and compassionate care of Ilene.
Memorial contributions may be made to Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge SD 57770.
Condolences and memories may be expressed online at boonefuneralhome.net
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