John Huey Hicks

John Huey Hicks of Prattsville, Arkansas was born September 13, 1938 and died November 8, 2015, at the age of 77. He was a Christian, grew up in East End, and was known for both his moral and physical strength. Huey served his country for many years as a Captain in the Arkansas Air National Guard. He received his pilot training in Big Spring, Texas in the early 1960's, in the Voodoo 101 fighter plane. In the later 1960's, he was activated to Okinawa, Japan for a number of months, leaving his wife and three young children to reside at the Little Rock AFB in Jacksonville. Huey attended the University of Arkansas where he played for the Arkansas Razorbacks and went on to a career as a commercial airline pilot where he flew B-727 aircrafts for Braniff International Airlines and Airbus A300 and 727 for Eastern Airlines. Throughout his career he remained a member of the Arkansas Air National Guard. During his time with the airlines, Huey received numerous accolades, his favorite being a letter to the airline from a group of nuns, complimenting the pilot skill and good judgment for a safe flight after encountering very bad weather. Huey was predeceased by his parents, Coy and Elise Hicks, a brother, Max Hicks, and the mother of his children, Rita Frances Hamilton Hicks. Huey was always there for Max's children to help them in any way possible after their dad died. He is survived by three loving children of whom he was so proud: daughter, Ginger Cate and husband Rickey; daughter, Sherry Beard and husband Joe; son, Chip Huey Hicks. He is also survived by a sister, Rita Roberts. To his children, he was always larger than life, and was truly the toughest of the tough. He was a very devoted grandfather to his sixteen grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. In his retirement years they became the center of his life. Huey loved the outdoors, animals, gardening, and sports. He enjoyed a simple lifestyle. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, November 12, 2015 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel with his nephew, Bro. Paul Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Philadelphia Cemetery in Prattsville. Visitation will be 5-7 pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers are P.J. Beard, Jody Beard, Christian Beard, Chris Robinson, Ryan Killackey, Jamie Calhoun, Stephen Jordan and Anthony Edwards. Honorary pallbearers are Spencer Taylor and Rocco Hicks. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.