Obituary for Jack Hicks

Jack Dean Hicks Sr.

(May 20, 1928 – August 9, 2017)

Jack Dean Hicks Sr. of Braman, Oklahoma, died Wednesday morning, August 9, 2017, at his home at the age of 89 years.

Jack “Sonny” as he was known to his family, was born in Perry, Oklahoma, to Sylvester Stanley Hicks and Bessie Cleo Stoddard. He grew up in Perry, where his parents ran a laundromat. He joined the Navy as a young man and was stationed at Moffett Field, California, after completing his radioman class in San Diego, California. During his years in California he was a member of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He was foreman at Picksweet and Stokley Vancamp canneries in the Santa Clara Valley for 10 years. He worked for Kelle Oil in Braman for 30 years changing tractor tires, delivering propane and everything else they asked him to do. Jack was also a regular handyman on-call for anybody, day or night. Partnered at various times with different family members Jack was a Braman business owner for most of his life. Starting with a hamburger joint called “Jack’s” on Main Street, he and his wife Betty later opened the stained glass shop “Touch of Class.” Together they completed many church windows and artworks for clients ranging from Colorado to California. Their business ventures also included the Braman dog grooming shop. For many years, Jack and Betty co-owned and operated “The Braman Workshop,” fixing cars with his daughter Gail and her husband Bob Goble. Jack and Betty did for everyone and if clients couldn’t pay they never pressed the issue. They just wrote it off and still would work for them anyway. Jack never really retired; there was always a new idea. His last business venture, the J&B Shop, was with his son-in-law Bob. Initially focused on car repair, Jack and Bob later expanded services to include an auto and tractor wash. With just a phone call to the shop, family and friends would also arrange to meet regularly to play a game of dominos, practically any time of the day or night. Jack had the distinction of being a veteran of WWII, of which he was very proud. Jack was a member of the local American Legion Post 259. He and his daughter Vickie joined the Braman Legion together, and at their first meeting discovered that they were the only father-daughter members of the post. Jack leaves a legacy of his love behind him. If you were close to him, related or not, he considered you and yours to be his family; Jack’s door was always open and if you needed something he had, it was yours. He loved and was loved by many. To borrow one of his own favorite and oft-repeated phrases, Jack was a “Go getting, Go getter.” His parents, two brothers (Bill, and Paul “Boots” Hicks), two sisters (Maxine Crane, Anna Mae Hicks), and two sons (Billy Hicks and Billy Dold) predeceased him. Jack leaves his loving and devoted wife Betty Hicks, and his only surviving sibling Zelda Morris, of Grand Terrace, California. He also leaves his 12 surviving children: Jack (Chris) Hicks Jr., Perry, OK; Gail Wind, Ben Lomond, CA; Elaine Wendel, Gilroy, CA; Anna (Brian) Tisdale, Roseville, CA; Vickie (Debbie Farnell) Lincicome, Albertville, AL; Kathy (Kenny) Knowles, Silver Springs, NV; Jackie Hicks, Los Gatos, CA; Bruce Hicks, Aptos, CA; Nancy Hicks, Los Gatos, CA; Robbie Hicks, Los Gatos, CA; Kim Garwood, Blackwell, OK; Donna (Hani) Al Balas, Braman, OK; December Hicks of Blackwell, OK, plus many grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and countless friends. Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at the Braman United Methodist Church, Braman, Oklahoma, with Rev. Trish Harris, Braman United Methodist Church, Braman, Oklahoma, and Rev. Kent Reubell officiating.

Casketbearers will be Rick Sprueill, Richard Goble, Mark Miller, Rick Cole, Austin Garwood, and John Shwayat. Honorary bearers will be Bob Goble and Gunner Cole. A memorial has been established in his honor with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

Online condolences can be made at robertsandsonfh.com.