Rachel Lorrine Hicks was born in Middletown, Ohio March 7, 1930 to Molly Caskey and Shelby Sparks. Rachel’s mother passed away when she was 3 years old. Her dad then married Holly Amburgey, and they were blessed with five more children. Rachel was very loved by her two brothers and three sisters. As a big sister, she enjoyed her role, nurturing and loving them. She grew up and married James Hicks in May 1950 and raised a large family of seven children, three daughters and four sons. Although she lived away from her siblings, she kept up correspondence and visited her siblings when possible.
Rachel enjoyed traveling. As her daughter Rebecca would say: “mother is my traveling buddy, always ready at a minute’s notice to take a trip”. The best travels were visiting her brother RB, sister Carrie, their families in Oklahoma, as well as sisters Phyllis, Virginia, and their families in Napa Valley, California, and her brother Ronald in Oregon. Through her travels, there were always fun things to do and beautiful areas to explore. Her trip to Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii in December 2015, with son Philip, daughter Rebecca, friends Norma, Don, Katie, Elmira, Pat and Lee, was a thrilling highlight of travel for Rachel. During the past three years, she enjoyed reminiscing and remembering with quick recall of these traveling experiences. Rachels last year was spent at the Knott County Health and Rehabilitation Center. She enjoyed her Son Roger Hicks and made many friends.
Rachel enjoyed people and had the opportunity to work at the Breathitt County Library for a few years. She always enjoyed art and did many paintings for her large extended family. At the library, she was given an opportunity to do painting classes that she eagerly participated in and learned new techniques.
Rachel passed from this life into eternal life on Sunday, July 16 at the Noreen and Wells Hospice Care Center. She is survived by her sons Joseph (Charlene) Hicks, Roger (Sherry) Hicks, and Philip Hicks. Daughters: Deborah Combs, Rebecca Ware (Michael) and Lavada Thornburg. 20 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren.
Sisters: Phyllis Tidwell, Virginia Dean, and Carrie Listen, brother Rollie Bunion Sparks and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, as well as husband James Hicks, infant son Jimmy, son Shelby, grandson James Andrew Gonzales, brother Ronald Victor Sparks, daughter in law Tessie, and son in laws Carl Combs and Herbert Thornberg.
Rachel’s life was all about serving her Lord and telling people about Jesus. She was a homemaker who raised seven children, and she often reminded them of how much she “loved and appreciated them”.
In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Care Center. 101 Dennis Sandlin MD Cove Hazard, KY 41701.
Obituary courtesy of Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home, Inc.