Edith Curley Hancock, 96, of Fremont, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at the Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at the Craig (Neb.) Methodist Church with the Rev. Nicola Frail officiating. Interment will be in the Craig Cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont, and at the church one hour prior to services. In addition, an Eastern Star Service, conducted by the Craig Chapter No. 157, and open to the public, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel.

Edith (Eriksen) Curley Hancock was born Oct. 20, 1904 at Herman to Frank and Orinda (Cram) Eriksen. She grew up in Herman/New England area. She graduated from Herman High School and also attended one year of college, receiving her teaching certificate.

She began teaching in rural Chase County, and rode a horse five miles to the school. She later taught in the Meierhenry School at Telbasta during 1923-1924.

On Oct. 26, 1923, she married Howard G. Curley in Dunlap, Iowa. They farmed in Herman, Tekamah and Craig communities until 1979, then moved to Fremont. Mr. Curley died in 1980.

On Oct. 2, 1982, she married Dewey Hancock in Alder Grove Methodist Church near Craig. Mr. Hancock was a retired farmer from Valier, Mont., originally from Craig. Mrs. Hancock and her husband lived in Valier and Phoenix, Ariz., until moving to Fremont in 1988. Mr. Hancock died in 1993.

Mrs. Hancock was a life-time member of the Alder Grove Methodist Church, and in Fremont, a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church. She was a 55-year member of the Craig Chapter No. 157 Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as the secretary for many years. She was a 52-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Craig, and had been active in Burt County Extension clubs.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Pat Curley of Davis, Calif., and Richard and Edith Curley of Fremont, nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, a sister and brother-in-law, Julia Maude and Bill Detmer of Malibu, Calif., and a sister, Francine Sylvas of Bozeman, Mont.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Howard Curley and Dewey Hancock, a son, two sisters, two brothers, and two infant brothers.

Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth. Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.