Michelle Hancock Jackson

After a long, courageous battle with auto-immune disease, Michelle (Hancock) Jackson, 36, returned to her Heavenly Father on Saturday March 21st at the University of Utah Medical Center surrounded by her family.

Michelle was born January 5, 1979, in Pocatello, Idaho on a snowy, winter morning to Roger D and Katherine Jean Tomaich Hancock. She was the second of four children. However, you would have never known this by the way she always took charge of her siblings. This earned her the nickname of "mother-Michelle", which was fitting, as her nurturing, love, and kindness were the right qualities to uplift and help her siblings.

She was raised in Pocatello, Idaho and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1997. She also earned her Associates degree from Idaho State University in Medical Information Technology.

Michelle married Kevin Michael Jackson on May 20, 2000 and was able to spend 15 incredible years with her husband and best friend. During her 15-year battle with autoimmune disease, Kevin was her rock and took care of her in every way. Kevin and Michelle were kindred spirits, unselfish in their love for each other, always putting each other's needs first. They shared a very unique and special bond and had their own manner of communication, each time resulting in a smile.

Michelle always put friends and family first. She was a true friend and touched the lives of people near and far. Michelle kept close tabs on all of her immediate and extended family and friends. She had the ability and cared enough to never forget a birthday or special occasion. Her love for others was reciprocated as she had many family members and friends who traveled great distances to visit her while she was in the hospital.

Michelle was the spark in any room and could bring a smile to anyone's face with her incredible sense of humor, jokes and infectious laughter. Her comments were often off-the-wall and caught people by surprise. Everyone waited to hear what she would say next. She was able to use her humor to make anyone feel comfortable and accepted.

She had many talents and shared them with anyone who could benefit from them. Michelle took meals to others, cared and did many thoughtful things for friend's children. She had the unique ability to sense the needs of others and then find a way to help as needed.

She was cherished and dearly loved by her husband and his family, her parents, brother, sisters, extended family and friends. She will be missed by many.

Michelle is survived by her husband Kevin Michael Jackson, her parents, Roger and Jean Hancock. Her siblings, Marty D Hancock (partner Zane Courbay), Jackie Hancock Ismail (husband Fahd), Christine Hancock Knudson (husband KC). Her nephew, Jahmal Ismail, nieces, Dia and Brynlee Knudson, her mother and father-in-law Randy and Debra Jackson and brother-in-law, Brian Jackson. She was preceded in death by both her maternal and paternal grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Michelle's name to The Lupus Foundation of America - www.lupus.org. A memorial has been set up in her name.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the LDS Church at 1433 Gwen Drive in Pocatello. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. No viewing will be held prior to services on Thursday. Interment will follow services on Thursday at the Grant Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.wilksfuneralhome.com.