Mary Dorthulia Farley Hancock

Mary Dorthulia Farley Hancock, age 98, of Cottonwood died Thurday, April 14th. She descended from a pioneer Sedona family. She is the daughter of Joe Farley and Sarah Jane Lay Farley, who homesteaded land located on both sides of Oak Creek, where L\u0027Auberge now stands in Sedona. Mary was born in Dewey, Arizona on August 28, 1906. The Farley family was established in Sedona at that time but were temporarily in Dewey. She attended local Sedona schools and graduated from Clarkdale High School in 1924. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Hancock, and her sister, Minnie Steele. On September 3, 1933 she and her husband purchased the Hancock Ranch near Honaki Ruins, halfway between Sedona and Cottonwood and she has resided there ever since. Her husband was a cattle rancher. Joe and Mary were well known for their vineyards and fruit trees, the produce of which was sold throughout the Verde Valley. Mary was famous for creating an extensive rock garden on the ranch, She was a collector of Indian aartifacts and antiques of all kinds and created a museum on the ranch that she shared with all visitors. Mary Hancock made friends throughout the world by welcoming people to visit the ranch. She has been a life-long member of the Verde Baptist Church. Mary is survived by her nephews, Will Steele of Cornville, Ray Steele of Sedona and Bob Willard of Cottonwood,and by her cousins, Joe Derrick of Clarkdale and Jim Derrick of Cornville. A funeral servie will be held on Friday, April 22nd at the Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 E. Mingus Avenue, Cottonwood at 11:00 A.M., burial will be at Valley View Cemetery in Clarkdale. Memorial donations may be sent to Northern Arizona Hospice 269 S. Candy Lane, Cottonwood, Az 86326.