Stanley Neal Hicks (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Stanley Neal Hicks was born September 3, 1952, in Columbia, South Carolina to Paul and Elaine (Kirkpatrick) Hicks. He passed away Monday, August 26, 2024, in Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-one years.
Stanley grew up on the Lake of the Ozarks and graduated from Camdenton High School in 1970. After two years of naval training with a focus on munitions, he returned home to begin learning the building trade from his father. Through the years his workmanship had the mark of a master carpenter. He could design and build most anything one could imagine with such care and attention to detail. He was also a tinkerer, always taking things apart and putting them back together. There wasn’t much that he couldn’t figure out without a little thinking and research.
Always a seeker of knowledge, Stanley devoted his life to the study of the word of God. Although he would claim to be just a simple man, he had a scholar’s heart for scripture that he loved sharing with his family and any passing person. He believed in the power of prayer. His family will always think of him as a man after God’s heart. Even when what he believed surpassed the understanding of some around him, he remained steadfast and obedient to what he knew God wanted him to be. Sometimes the struggles of life begin to weigh heavy as our bodies break down, keeping us from doing all that we wish we could. We will miss him dearly, but his rest is well earned. We know he heard the words from Mathew 25:21, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
On July 7, 2000, Stanley was united in marriage to Tamera Vickers at the Bennett Spring Church of God. They shared 24 years of marriage as a couple of homebodies who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. From meteor showers, a total eclipse, and even a glimpse of the Northern Lights way down here in Missouri, they loved their time exploring nature. Their walks in the woods would be filled with tidbits from Stanley about the native plants and flowers. He always took his time to observe the natural world around him and enjoy the simplicity and beauty of God’s creation.
What made Stanley most proud were his daughters, Danielle and Kimberly. Long before the term became popular, he was the epitome of a girl dad, who even knew how to sew outfits for their teddy bears. Reading books, singing silly songs on his guitar, setting up easels to explore painting, but most importantly sharing his love of scripture, Stanley was devoted to helping them grow into their best lives. He continued to encourage each of his five grandchildren to seek out the truth in God’s word.
Not a day would pass that Stanley and his brother Ron wouldn’t chat or text. Growing up together on the Lake of the Ozarks, they filled their days climbing the hills and exploring the river banks. Now that the years have passed, their conversations changed to grandkids, cowboy movies, and yes, the weather. They loved watching cloud formations, comparing rain gauges, and sharing pics of stunning sunsets. Their bond of brotherhood lasted a lifetime, and the passing of his big brother has left a gulf that is hard to fill.
Stanley is survived in death by his wife, Tamera Hicks; two daughters, Danielle Hyatt and her husband David of Lebanon, Missouri, and Kimberly Lewis and her husband Travis of Fulton, Missouri; five grandchildren, Kaden Hyatt, Braelyn Hyatt, Konner Hyatt, Colton Lewis, and Hailey Lewis; his brother Ron Hicks and his wife Mitzi of Lebanon, Missouri; and his niece Brittany Hicks and nephew Ryan Hicks. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Joyce Friel.
To capture the full radiance of a person’s life is a power beyond words, especially so few. Yet words aid our hearts in holding memories and glimpsing glories that defy adequate description. The Apostle Paul taught one power will outlast all words. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Stanley’s unshakable trust in God’s plan made an indelible impact on those who knew him. Because his love came from a Source outside himself, his life will bear fruit long after his departure from this world. May those he leaves behind cherish his memory and carry on the love and faith that defined his life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to Antioch Cemetery.
Donations can be left at Holman-Howe Funeral Home.
Services for Stanley Hicks will be private.
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