JL Hicks, age 88, of Leesville, Louisiana passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024. The last and youngest member of a family of seven. He was born in Leesville, Louisiana December 11, 1935 to parents William Roscoe "W. R." Hicks and Mattie Elizabeth Nessmith Hicks.
JL Enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 29, 1959. He served with the 6th armoured Cavalry as an Artilleryman in Ft Knox, KY, His awards include the Army good conduct medal. He obtained the rank of Specialist Four, and was honorably discharged on January 28, 1961 from active duty. He served another 4 years in the reserves ending on January 28, 1965. He also worked for Mullers, JCPenney, West Brothers for 19+ years, and Boise Cascade.
JL was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Helen Lorena Roberts Hicks, his parents, and four brothers; JD, Russell, Jack Raymond, and TC.
Those left to cherish his memories include his 6 children; Richard Steve and wife Debora of Jayess, MS, Bruce Dale and wife Julia of Ocala, FL, Norma Gale and husband Jeff Leiby of Murphy, NC, Brenda Lynn and husband Ray Bynog of Leesville, LA, Denise Jane and husband Scott Hughes of Calabasas, CA and Kelly Renee and friend Matthew Morris of Rockvale, TN. In addition to 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
JL's last request was that you would be left with this message from him.
"The soul of a man NEVER dies. You cannot buy yourself or someone else into Heaven; you cannot be prayed or bought out of Hell. We preach our own funeral! As God's word says, "Life is but a vapor" we should do our part to make it to Heaven. We are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. I believe it means that with all our being, the corpse, body or car, so to speak, is the mobile unit that carries the soul, spirit and mind around while on this earth. The body, once dead is empty, but life goes on Forever! The journey has just begun at mans physical death on earth. Man's spirit (life) is not in this world, it's in God's, after this physical death. The message (sermon) today is for the living, not for the dead.
The family will welcome the public for visitation at J. E. Hixson & Sons Funeral Home of Lake Charles, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 from 10am until time of funeral service, officiated by Andrew Addison, at 12pm. JL's final resting place will be at Cooper Cemetery in Pickering, Louisiana. Pallbearers for services are; Steve Hicks, Brett Hicks, Trenton Brazie, Creighton Thurman, Ethan Castaneda, Brett Coker, Michael Kay, and Jonathan Phillips.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Hicks family may be expressed at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com
