Richard Anthony Hicks, Jr.

Richard Anthony Hicks, Jr., a father of three and a friend to virtually everyone he encountered, died Monday, Feb. 20 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa with friends and family at his side. Born July 18, 1965 in Macomb, Illinois He was 57.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Richard Anthony Hicks Sr., and Annabelle Levi, sister Gina McClure and brother Sammy Easky.

Richard was raised primarily in Salina and other towns in Oklahoma. He spent a memorable part of his childhood on a military base near Nuremberg, Germany, and still has many friends from that experience.

Richard returned to Oklahoma and completed his education at Salina High School in 1984. He was proud to be a starter on the Salina basketball team that won 21 games and lost only 6 games during his senior season.

Richard's life journey included many occupations, but the jobs that were most significant and impactful for him were jobs that allowed him to assist children and youths through social service work.

Richard's interests included music (KISS & KC and the Sunshine Band were among favorites), classic television sitcoms, comfort food, scary movies, playing softball, fishing, using his phone to network with family and nearly 1,000 Facebook friends and watching sporting events. He was a loyal watcher of OU football games and the Dallas Cowboys. He also loved the Cincinnati Reds and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richard was a proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and also had Cherokee roots.

Family and friends will remember Richard as someone who would do almost anything to make a person laugh. His personality made him a target for good-natured teasing, but he was capable of giving as good as he got.

Even as an adult, Richard brought a kid's sense of playfulness -- let's have fun today -- into his relationships. But the biggest joy of his life arrived when he became a father, first to Kenzie and then to Bella and Evan. He referred to his children as his "heartbeats." He loved to spend time with them and be a spectator at their activities. He loved talking about the latest developments in their lives with others.

Richard's super power was his people skills. He didn't just accumulate friends at every stop in life. He sustained those friendships for decades, staying in touch with people he had met at schools, jobs and softball diamonds along the way.

Those left to cherish Richards memory include his three children, daughters, McKenzie "Kenzie" Hicks, of Durant, Oklahoma, Bella Hicks, of Benton, Arkansas and his son, Evan Hicks also of Benton, Arkansas, Stepfather, Andrew Easky of Muskogee, stepmother, Rubeen Hicks of Sapulpa, sisters, Tanya Hicks-Jones of Attumwa, Iowa, Rhonda Hicks of Worcester, MA, Ladean Marris and husband Harold of Madill, brothers Clint Hicks and wife April of Glenpool, sister Nakita Presnell and husband Brandon of Sapulpa, brother Timothy Hicks of Muskogee, sister Kari McNeil and husband Luke of Muskogee and a host of many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Richard was much loved and will be greatly missed.

Viewing and Visitation is scheduled for Friday, February 24, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Integrity Funeral Service, 410 East Trudgeon, Henryetta, Oklahoma.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Integrity Funeral Chapel with Reverend David Dunson officiating.

Those serving as Pallbearers are: Gavin Brady, Jimmie Tramel, George Littledave, Clint Hicks, Brandon Presnell, Joe Williams.

Honorary Pallbearers: Nakona Johnson, Alva Roughface, Jordan Reynolds, Jimmy Reynolds, Brandon Layfield, Jim Hicks, Rojer Johnson, Charles Claunts and Gavin Williams.

Arrangements and Services have been entrusted to Integrity Funeral Service, Henryetta, Oklahoma.