It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Elva Hancock. She passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in Enumclaw, WA surrounded by family.

Elva was born in San Francisco, CA to parents Ray and Dorothy Ricketts on December 13, 1942. Elva was the matriarch of a large, fun-loving family who she loved deeply and who loved her to the ends of the earth. She was most proud of the family she helped create alongside her husband of 58 years, David Hancock. They were married in Tacoma, WA on September 30th, 1961. Elva was a proud military spouse and David’s career took them to many places, including Frankfurt, Germany where Elva gave birth to two of their four children. After some travel, they landed in Puyallup, WA where they raised their young family and when their youngest was almost out of high school, they moved to Aberdeen, WA where they spent many years.

While living in Aberdeen, Elva found great honor and joy in working at a non-profit, Coastal Community Action Program. There she was able to spread her God-given compassion and kindness to people in need. In 2004, Elva and David retired to the gulf coast of Florida where they spent nearly 10 glorious years poolside and enjoying their lanai before returning to Washington to be able to be closer to the family they loved.

Elva was a woman of faith and devoted to her Baptist church for many years. Elva loved to swim and she loved dolphins. It was a must that Elva had a pool to enjoy herself in which led to David and family building an above ground pool at their home in Aberdeen and, of course, had a pool in Florida which she enjoyed almost daily. Elva could be found effortlessly floating on her back for hours at Lake Cushman where she and David also had a piece of property that always brought the family together, it was affectionately known as “Hancock’s Haven.” Elva also loved to read and later in life found a love of Legos. She enjoyed the challenge of something new and being able to use her mind to create wonderful pieces that she proudly displayed.

Though Elva’s presence on earth is gone and she is with the Lord, her legacy will live on through the family who loved her so dearly. She is survived by her son David Hancock and daughter-in-law Jennifer Hancock, daughters Debbie Gibson and favorite son-in-law Chuck Gibson, Claudia Gilmer and son-in-law Robert Gilmer, and Kimberly Iverson. In addition to her children, Elva is survived by her 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

In death Elva has been reunited with her husband David Hancock, her parents Ray and Dorothy Ricketts, and her siblings George, David, Beverly and Darlene.

There will be a celebration of life held for Elva on December 13, 2025, 2:00pm at Lakeside Manor, 19904 SE 416 th St Enumclaw, WA 98022.

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Coastal

Community Action Program of Aberdeen, WA located 101 E Market St, Aberdeen, WA

98520