1932
Ben
2013
Ben Hicks
February 19, 1932 — February 24, 2013
Ben Hicks passed away on Feb. 24th, 2013 in West Plains, Missouri. He was born Feb. 19, 1932 in Fulton Co. Arkansas to George "Dick" Hicks and Hazel Rhoads Hicks. He graduated from West Plains High School in 1949, and that same year married Lois Collins. Ben and Lois were married for over 50 years, until her passing in 2000.
After volunteering for the Air Force following high school, Ben and Lois moved to Kansas City in 1956 along with his brother Bill and wife Goldie Hicks. They shared a special relationship, as Ben and Bill married sisters and lived side by side nearly their entire lives.
Together they began their career in the car business, as salesmen with Bill Ireland Chevrolet at 16th & McGee in downtown Kansas City. After working their way up from the sales floor, Ben joined with his brother Bill to purchase the dealership in 1967, which became Hicks Brothers Chevrolet. He went on to spend over 30 years as a Chevrolet dealer before retiring. Ben loved the car business, and loved working with people. He made many great friends and enjoyed traveling all over the world with Chevrolet during his time as a dealer. Ben was an original founder and long-time member of Wolf Creek Golf Club, and held a life-long passion for the game of golf. He loved sharing the game with friends and family, particularly his grandsons who have many wonderful memories of time spent together at Wolf Creek. Nothing made him happier than time spent with family, especially Sunday dinners and having everyone to the farm in Gardner or West Plains. Lovingly known as our "Papaw," he had a special relationship with his grandchildren, and was particularly excited for the arrival of six great-grandkids in recent years. He took a great deal of pride in both his kids and grandkids, and was always there with advice or one of his little sayings to put things in just the right perspective. While spending most of his working years living in Kansas City, he always kept close ties to West Plains, and greatly enjoyed returning to the country and his farms there. In retirement he was able to return to his roots and enjoy this life in West Plains. After his wife Lois' passing, Ben found a new partner in Marianna Hoover, who lovingly walked beside him for the last 12 years. It was said at the time of his father's passing, and holds true for Ben's life, that "he has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men, and the love of little children; who left the world better than he found it, who never lacked appreciation of the earth's beauty or failed to express it; who always looked for the best in others, and gave the best he had." He will be greatly missed by those of us whose lives he touched, which were many. God truly broke the mould when he made Ben.
He is survived by wife Marianna Hoover Hicks, daughter Debbie Gray (Bill), son Ben Hicks, JR (Joy), step-daughters Paula Huddleston and Elizabeth Vesto, step-sons Rick and Randy Hoover, grandchildren Brett Gray (Courtney), Christopher Gray, Angie Gray O'Bryan (Jason), Ben Hicks III (Liz) and Billie Hicks III (Allie), six great-grandchildren, and seventeen step and great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons – Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210. Interment will follow at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Overland Park. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First Tee of Greater Kansas City, 7501 Blue River Rd, Kansas City, MO 64132.
After volunteering for the Air Force following high school, Ben and Lois moved to Kansas City in 1956 along with his brother Bill and wife Goldie Hicks. They shared a special relationship, as Ben and Bill married sisters and lived side by side nearly their entire lives.
Together they began their career in the car business, as salesmen with Bill Ireland Chevrolet at 16th & McGee in downtown Kansas City. After working their way up from the sales floor, Ben joined with his brother Bill to purchase the dealership in 1967, which became Hicks Brothers Chevrolet. He went on to spend over 30 years as a Chevrolet dealer before retiring. Ben loved the car business, and loved working with people. He made many great friends and enjoyed traveling all over the world with Chevrolet during his time as a dealer. Ben was an original founder and long-time member of Wolf Creek Golf Club, and held a life-long passion for the game of golf. He loved sharing the game with friends and family, particularly his grandsons who have many wonderful memories of time spent together at Wolf Creek. Nothing made him happier than time spent with family, especially Sunday dinners and having everyone to the farm in Gardner or West Plains. Lovingly known as our "Papaw," he had a special relationship with his grandchildren, and was particularly excited for the arrival of six great-grandkids in recent years. He took a great deal of pride in both his kids and grandkids, and was always there with advice or one of his little sayings to put things in just the right perspective. While spending most of his working years living in Kansas City, he always kept close ties to West Plains, and greatly enjoyed returning to the country and his farms there. In retirement he was able to return to his roots and enjoy this life in West Plains. After his wife Lois' passing, Ben found a new partner in Marianna Hoover, who lovingly walked beside him for the last 12 years. It was said at the time of his father's passing, and holds true for Ben's life, that "he has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men, and the love of little children; who left the world better than he found it, who never lacked appreciation of the earth's beauty or failed to express it; who always looked for the best in others, and gave the best he had." He will be greatly missed by those of us whose lives he touched, which were many. God truly broke the mould when he made Ben.
He is survived by wife Marianna Hoover Hicks, daughter Debbie Gray (Bill), son Ben Hicks, JR (Joy), step-daughters Paula Huddleston and Elizabeth Vesto, step-sons Rick and Randy Hoover, grandchildren Brett Gray (Courtney), Christopher Gray, Angie Gray O'Bryan (Jason), Ben Hicks III (Liz) and Billie Hicks III (Allie), six great-grandchildren, and seventeen step and great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons – Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210. Interment will follow at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Overland Park. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First Tee of Greater Kansas City, 7501 Blue River Rd, Kansas City, MO 64132.
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