Robert Laverne Hancock Jr.

Our Dad, Robert Laverne “Skip” Hancock, Jr. passed away peacefully at Amie Holt Care Center on December 12, 2025. Services remembering and celebrating Skip will be announced at a later time. He will be buried at Willow Grove Cemetery, next to his wife, Ginny as well as son, Naval Veteran, Michael. A visitation for Skip will be held Friday, December 19th from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo.

Dad lived his life with joy and gusto and loved driving through the mountains, sharing memories with friends and family, and playing cards. Born December 18th, 1931, in Buffalo, WY he was welcomed by his parents, Elma Owen Hancock & Robert Laverne Hancock, Sr. He grew up in Buffalo and graduated from Johnson County High School in 1950. Dad joined the Army in 1953, completing his service in 1954. In 1954 he moved to Denver, CO to attend the University of Denver. While at DU, he played football and met Virginia (Ginny) Rose Hancock, who was there working for the FBI. On June 16, 1957, Skip and Ginny were married. They honeymooned in the Grand Canyon and then began their lives together back in Denver, Ginny still working for the FBI and Skip graduated from DU. In August of 1957, Skip took a job with Standard Oil Company which moved the newlyweds to Powell, WY. It was in Powell that they started to grow a young family, Ginny giving birth to their five children between Feb. 1959 and Feb. 1963. They had 3 daughters, and twin sons. Over the years, the family moved from Powell to Anchorage AK, then to New Orleans LA. After Robert Sr.’s passing in 1972, Skip and Ginny decided it was time to move back to Wyoming. They moved their family to Buffalo and bought a share of the Central Garage where he worked selling cars and farm equipment until 1981 when the business was sold. He finished his career at Wyoming Bank and Trust. Skip was deeply involved in the Buffalo community. He served as a City Council member from 1997 to 2009 and as Buffalo’s Mayor from 2009 to 2010. For over 30 years, he volunteered as a firefighter, including 16 years as fire chief.

Skip was also an active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and the Kiwanis Club. Dad served his community much like he lived his life, with pride, care and humor. Among his many traits, Skip was a masterful storyteller and loved to make people laugh. Skip could always be found at one of Buffalo’s many coffee shops, telling stories – and maybe adding on an embellishment or two. Perhaps among his favorite places to tell stories was in front of his three granddaughters, who stared up at him, completely enthralled by his stories about a dog named Horse and a horse named Dog. As their children turned to adults, Skip and Ginny always wanted to be involved in helping with projects, building decks, building homes, nothing kept them away. They were always there to share advice, desired or not, and provide an extra set of hands.

Skip mourned the death of his parents, his son Michael (Mike) Howard Hancock, and his beloved wife Ginny. His long, healthy life is celebrated by his children Becky & (Bruce) Seibel, Patty Hancock, Barb

& (Chuck) Mahoney, and son Bob & (Kathy) Hancock, and his four loving granddaughters Kaitlyn Mahoney & partner (Justin Pounds), Jenna Mahoney & husband (Chuck Sears), their daughter Adeline Mahoney Sears, Zoey Mahoney and Tashann (Seibel) Bennett and her two children Mckenzie & Ty Bennett along with countless family and friends. We look forward to sharing memories, tears, and laughter. In lieu of flowers, please remember Dad, with donations to your favorite charity directly or donations in Skip’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.