Edward Eugene Hicks

EDWARD EUGENE HICKS, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, left his earthly home to be with his heavenly father, on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. He was born November 18, 1937, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Henry Earl Hicks and Orelia Fay Robertson Hicks, and was raised by his dad and stepmother, Joyce Merle Hammock Hicks, in Texas. Gene leaves his beloved brother, Donald Earl Hicks (Mary Belle); sisters, Carolyn Joyce Hicks, Peggy Marie Hebert, Wanda Ruth Furgason (Jay), and Jo Ann Hicks Royer.

He graduated from W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, in 1956. Gene was a lifelong Aggie, graduating with a Degree in Mathematics in 1960 from Texas A&M. He enjoyed playing lead guitar with Gene & The Jesters in and around College Station. His senior year, he met and fell instantly in love with his bride of 52 years, Anna Belle Copeland Hicks. After briefly working as a 7th grade teacher in Northwood Jr. High, he found his calling as an engineer. Gene worked for General Dynamics, Lockheed, and in 1974 he began his 39 year career with ExxonMobil. His work took him and his family to Malaysia, California, and eventually back to Texas. Gene and Ann had two children, David Wayne Hicks (Kim) and Terri Lynn Hicks Chaney (Jack); and three grandchildren, Savannah Caitlin Hicks, William Harrison Chaney, and Benjamin Edward Chaney. He was very close with his children and grandchildren and spent precious time with them before his passing.

Gene’s avocations in life were fishing in the Laguna Madre and raising pecans. He owned pecan farms in Wharton and San Saba, Texas, both of which he ran almost single-handedly.

Gene worked for ExxonMobil up until his death and loved being a mentor to the younger engineers. Gene was a man’s man, touched lives of many, had a great sense of humor and was strikingly handsome. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him. The family would like to thank Hermann Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute, and M D Anderson Cancer Center’s staff for their loving care.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Sunday, May 5, 2013, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit). Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Monday, May 6, 2013, in the Morrow Chapel of The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, with the Rev. M. Eugene Vickrey, officiating. Interment will follow at Morton Cemetery, in Richmond, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gene’s memory may be made to Living Water International, 4001 Greenbriar Dr., #200, Stafford, TX 77477.