Marie Hickman

Marie Phyllis Hickman was born on July 16, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois to Louise Marie Nasti Hickman and James Jay Hickman. She was their first child, and she was born early and weighed only 4 pounds. Marie smiled early and often and for the rest of her life as evidenced by the many pictures we have today. Marie welcomed a little brother in November 1950 and his name was James Jay Hickman Jr.

The Hickmans moved to California in the 1950’s and started out in the Los Angeles area and eventually moved to Orange County. While they were living in an apartment in Monterey Park, Marie welcomed a little sister named Frances Marie Hickman and she was born in Hollywood in March of 1956. Marie welcomed another little sister named Louise Marie Hickman and she was born in Orange in November of 1958. The Hickman’s bought their first house in Santa Ana, California in May of 1956. They lived there until Fall of 1965 when they moved to Tustin.

Marie attended and graduated from St. Joseph’s School in Santa Ana in 1963. Marie’s closest friends from elementary school were Sandy Lucio, Nicki Curran, Elaine Romero, and Debbie Boyd. Marie attended and graduated from Marywood High School in 1967. Marie took typing class and shorthand classes in high school and excelled in these activities. She would go on to type 120 WPM which would serve her well, for most of her career and personal life. She also took 4 years of Latin, which helped in trivia which she loved. She attended Chapman College in Orange and Santa Ana College in Santa Ana where she took office occupation courses. Marie was also the Manager of the Tustin Chamber of Commerce at the age of 24 and went on to work for many senior executives of major corporations, as an Executive Secretary.

Two of the Hickman Family activities would stay with Marie; going to the movies and going to Disneyland. These were her favorite things to do. She particularly liked older movies. Those from the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. She would watch them all the time and read books about them. She had an excellent memory for movies and knew every cast and crew member for every one of them. She was our movie Wikipedia before the Internet. Her favorite movies were comedies, especially romantic ones. She also enjoyed westerns and great classic dramas, often watching on Turner Classic Movies with Robert Osborne, whom she admired greatly. And Disneyland was her favorite place to go, even though she worked for Universal Studios for many years. We all enjoyed the free admission!

Marie’s mom, Dolly Hickman, as most knew her, had family locally in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel areas. The Hickman Family would often get together with the Zullo Family, The Gilberto Family, The Gates Family, The Grieco Family, The Ursini Family, and any other Italians that showed up. And everyone would eat. Cooking and eating became celebratory activities. Many a family gathering was had at the Hickman House. And there was always food. No one was allowed to leave hungry. Marie became a great cook. She enjoyed cooking and she even took some culinary cooking courses. We will never forget her yummy broccoli casserole at Thanksgiving and glorious cheesecake dessert!!

Marie was also there to lend a helping hand anytime someone in the family moved. Her special skill was to line the kitchen shelves. Marie was also the family representative at events when the rest of us could not attend. She is survived by her sister Louise, brother Jim and sister-in-law Linda, sister Frances and brother-in-law Dave, nieces Marie, Danielle, Katie, Denae, Jill, and Megan, and nephews Steven, CJ, Jordan, Danny, Andy, Bowie and Kevin and grand-nieces Gigi, Layla, Allie, Abby, Izzy, Claire, Wrenly, and grand-nephew Drew.

In her early 60’s Marie was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. This disease took the bright light that was once Marie, and she soon was not the person we knew and eventually became very quiet. Marie passed away on May 6, 2021. Please hold in your heart whatever sweet encounter that you had with Marie. She is at peace and in heaven now, and we will see her again.