Shelly P. Hancock, a Harris County Judge whose public service spanned several decades and continents, passed away on Jan. 31, 2026 in Sherman, Texas.

He was 85 years-old.

Shelly was born on Aug. 29, 1940 in Mexia, Texas. He was a lifelong resident of Cypress, Texas and the northwest Harris County region.

Shelly married Jane Armontrout Hancock, his high school sweetheart in 1961. Together, they enjoyed 64 years of faith, love and endless support for one another.

He graduated from Cy-Fair High School in the Cypress-Fairbanks School District in 1958. Shelly Attended Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas, earning an Associate's Degree, and the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After graduating from U of H Law School with a Juris Doctorate Law Degree, he practiced law privately as well as an assistant district attorney for Harris County. Serving as a partner with Adam, Adam and Hancock was a highlight of this time.

Judge Hancock's career in public service began in 1973 with an appointment as a Justice of the Peace, Position 1, in Harris County. He was elected a year later to the same position and re-elected in 1976 and held offices in the JP and Texas Constable's Organization.

In 1977, he was appointed Judge of Harris County Criminal Court # 7 and was re-elected five times. Judge Hancock was appointed to several committee positions of the Texas Judicial Section of the State Bar. He served four terms as presiding judge of the Harris County Criminal Courts and also held several committee positions in the Harris County judicial system.

Never one to sit still for long, after retiring from the bench in 1997, Shelly was soon thereafter appointed by the U. S. State Department as a Peacekeeper to Kosovo. He served six months in Kosovo and was instrumental in the building of the country's justice department and drafting of its constitution. In addition to his work internationally, Shelly also returned to practicing law with the firm Payte and Kologinczak and served the public once again by sitting on the bench when needed as a substitute judge.

Shelly had a commanding presence but was quick to put those around him at ease with a smile and always, a great story. These traits were evident while in college and law school where he worked as a radio announcer for KEBE, KTHT, and KPRC.

Shelly was active in the community serving more than 30 years as a football public address announcer for the Cy-Fair School District. He also volunteered countless hours as a state licensed auctioneer in charity events across Texas.

Despite his decorated and storied career, Shelly's proudest moments in life came through his experiences of being a family man: son, brother, husband, father, and most notably, grandfather and great-grandfather.

In addition to his wife Jane, Shelly is survived by his sister Lynda Jo Hancock; son, Dale Allen Hancock; daughter, Staci Lyn Witten, and her husband, Roy Witten Jr; granddaughter, Christine Witten Heinbecker and her husband, Blake, and a great-grandson; and many cousins and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his father, T. S. Hancock and his mother, Effie Dell Hancock.

A Celebration of Shelly's Life will be held at Cypress Methodist Church, 13403 Cypress North Houston Road, Cypress, TX 77429 on Feb. 23 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to a charity of your choosing.