CUMBERLAND — James Burnet Hancock, 87, died March 9 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House with his two daughters by his side.

Born on Oct. 19, 1923, he grew up in Mahwah, N.J., with his mother, Ella (Bixby) Hancock and his aunt Margaret May Burnet. His father, Edward Lee Hancock, died before his birth.

In 1941 he graduated from Ridgewood High School and proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

After the war, he attended Pace University in New York City and graduated with a degree in business administration.

For 33 years he worked at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, N.Y., retiring as a senior job analyst in salary administration.

While working at Lederle, he met his future wife, Marion Nelson. They married in 1953 and moved to New City, N.Y., where they raised three children, Kathy, Jim and Carol.

From a very young age he spent his summers on Bustins Island in Casco Bay, where he was known as “Jamie.” He created lifelong friendships on the island and enjoyed being a part of the close knit island community. Bustins was his true home and he couldn’t wait to open the family’s cottage every Memorial Day weekend.

In 1992 he and his wife moved to Cumberland Center to be closer to Bustins Island and their daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Dave. Over the years he developed a good friendship with his son-in-law and appreciated Dave’s company and helpful ways.

He had a fun-loving, energetic personality, and his family and friends will miss his good sense of humor and friendly nature.

His wife of 57 years, Marion, predeceased him in 2010, and his brother-in-law, Edwin J. Nelson, II, in 2008.

Surviving are his daughter Kathleen and her husband David Stager of North Yarmouth, his son, James and his wife Tori Hancock of Petaluma, Calif., and his daughter, Carol DeNino of Gaithersburg, Md.; two grandsons, Michael and Christopher DeNino of Gaithersburg, Md.; a sister-in-law, Audrey Nelson; and nieces and nephews of Pearl River, N.Y.

His family wishes to thank the staff at Gosnell Hospice House for their compassionate and attentive care during his last days.

On March 19, he was buried with military honors in Hackensack Cemetery, N.J., next to his wife Marion, exactly one year after her burial.

Arrangements were by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home in Portland, and Hannemann Funeral Home in Nyack, N.Y.

Memorial donations may be made to Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 180 U.S. Route 1, Suite 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

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