William Hicks

Funeral Services for William Eugene "Gene" Hicks of Gassville, Arkansas, will be 11:00 am Monday, September 12, 2011, at Gassville Baptist Church, with Reverend Gary Wise officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Sunday, September 11, 2011, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel.

Gene died Thursday, September 8, 2011, at Gassville Nursing Center, at the age of 77. He was born September 2, 1934, in Kennett, Missouri, the son of William Taylor and Oma Gladys Bennet Hicks. He married Lorraine Smalley on April 30, 1960, at Colton, California. He was a welder for American Steel where he worked for 20 years and retired as a park superintendent in Glen Carbon, Illinois. Gene was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Gene lived in Gassville, Arkansas since 1997 moving from Glen Carbon, Illinois. He was a member of the Glen Carbon, Illinois, Kiwanis.

Gene is survived by his wife, Lorraine of Gassville, AR; step-son, Glenn (Mary) Tenney of Bessmer, MI; step-daughter, Vivian (Gary) Barker of Collinsville, IL; daughter-in-law, Joanne (Richard) Tenney of Escondido, CA; brother, Donald (Anita) Hicks of Fountain Hill, AR; sister, Wanda Barker of Hamberg, AR; 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents; step-son, Richard Tenney; 2 brothers, Phillip and George Hicks; and 2 sisters, Glenda Mitchem and Betty Sue White.

Burial will be in the Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery with Glenn Tenney, Gary Barker, Sr., Steve Barker, Brian Barker, Gary Barker, Jr. and Jason Hicks as pallbearers. Military Honors will be provided by Alley-White American Legion Post #52 Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services.