Hazel Goldie (Miller) Hicks, 94, daughter of Robert Lee and Helen Effie (Flowers) Miller, was born June 9, 1921, in the Rocky Branch Community near Houston, Mo. She passed away Feb. 23, 2016, at Texas County Memorial Hospital, Houston, Mo.
Hazel, the oldest of 10 siblings, grew up in the Rocky Branch community and graduated from Houston High School in 1939. Hazel worked her way through high school. While in high school she met her lifelong sweetheart, Stanley. They were united in marriage on March 2, 1940, in Houston, Mo., and they enjoyed 73 years together. Stanley and Hazel lived briefly in the Plum Valley community moving to the farm in the Clara community in 1942.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley W. Hicks; parents, Robert and Helen Miller; three brothers, James “JC” Clayton, Raymond Roy “Bud” and Carroll Lloyd “Moe” Miller; three sisters, Gladys Marie Revels, Geneva Bernice Smith and Lucretia Elizabeth “Pat” Lewis; brother-in-law, John Lewis; one daughter, Rita D. Peek; one son-in-law, Eddie Moore; and one grandson, Donald Stevenson.
She is survived by her children, Richard L. Hicks and wife, Pat, of Houston, Mo., Rowena L. Moore of Cabool, Mo., and Rose M. Ward of Houston, Mo.; son in law, Richard Peek of Peculiar, Mo.; her brother, Robert “Bob” Miller and wife, Kay, of Houston, Mo.; two sisters, Erma Lee Gaddy of Shawnee Mission, Kan., and Joyce Kay Slatner and husband, John, of Salem, Wisc.; nine grandchildren, Leigh Ann (Hicks) Myers and husband, James, of Lebanon, Mo., David Stevenson and wife, Amy, of Peculiar, Mo., Michael Moore of Houston, Mo., Dana (Hicks) Hart and husband, David, of Knoxville, Tenn., Terry Moore and wife, Sharon, of Houston, Mo., Dr. Raquel (Ward) Morrow and husband, Doug, and Rashel (Ward) Bussard and husband, Dan, of Nixa, Mo., Joey Moore and wife, Julie, and Ronda (Ward) Cook and husband, Jonathan, of Houston, Mo.; 18 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Hazel was very involved in community activities, starting the first 4-H club with her neighbors and friends. This later became a non-denominational Sunday school and later the Clara Baptist Church. She was a member of the Houston Garden Club and the Rebekah Lodge for many years. She was an adamant supporter of her children and grandchildren’s activities, going to every event possible. She was a big believer in, if you started something, you finished it.
Hazel really enjoyed living on the Big Piney River with its sights and sounds. She enjoyed swimming in the evening with her children, sometimes by lantern light. She was an avid gardener and provider for her family. She always had a large garden and enjoyed canning and preserving fruits, vegetables, and meats. She was very well known by many as an awesome cook and enjoyed teaching her children and grandchildren to cook. She had one requirement, if you came to work on the farm you were going to eat before you left.
Hazel was employed for several years by the University of Missouri Extension as a soil technician in Texas County. She also served a term as Piney Township Assessor.
Hazel accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age and was a charter member of Clara Baptist Church. Hazel attended church at Clara as long as her health permitted. She was always involved in the church’s activities and served as the church clerk, secretary/treasurer and taught various Sunday school classes for many years. Hazel’s absence will leave a huge void with her family and friends however we are comforted to know that she is finally home with Stanley in the presence of their heavenly father.
Services were 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Evans Funeral Home with Paul Murray officiating. Burial was in Wolford Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were David Stevenson, Leigh Ann Myers, Michael Moore, Dana Hart, Terry Moore, Dr. Raquel Morrow, Rashel Bussard, Joey Moore and Ronda Cook.
Memorials may be made to Wolford Cemetery or Texas County Hospice of Care, in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
PAID
