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            Calvin Eule Hicks departed his earthly life following a sudden heart attack while attending a church swimming party at Hooker, Saturday, August 2, 2008.  He was born during a blizzard on December 4, 1924, northwest of Guymon on the Hicks family homestead.  Calvin was delivered by his dad, because the doctor couldn’t make it to the house due to the blizzard.  He was the son of Alan Brice and Olive Mae (Upshaw) Hicks.  Calvin tended sheep and helped on the family farm while attending school.  He was salutatorian of the eighth grade of Texas County and graduated from Goodwell High School.

            Calvin joined the U.S. Army as a young man.  He was very proud of his military service during World War II.  He arrived in Germany in time for the Central European battle with the 35^th Infantry Division.  During his service time, he received the Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with a Bronze Battle Star, Army of Occupation Medal and the Germany Good Conduct Medal.  Arriving back from Europe on the Queen Mary, Calvin served in the 5^th infantry division at Ft. Campbell, KY until his honorable discharge on July 31, 1946.

            Calvin and Joye Lollar were united in marriage on October 27, 1946 at Jetmore, Kansas and to this union were born six children; all were raised on the family farm northwest of Guymon.

            Calvin loved his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.  He especially loved to entertain the young children.  He was an avid collector of his ancestral history and loved to relay stories of the old-timers to the younger generation.  He raced into new adventures and loved to learn new things.  As a young man traveling with his brother Kenneth to the Colorado mountains, he developed a thirst for traveling.  In later years, he and his wife traveled to Europe, Hawaii, Canada and most of the U.S.  Calvin enjoyed fishing, water and snow skiing, morning walks, bicycling, reading, hunting, golfing, riding motorcycles and was an avid photographer.  He enjoyed including his grandchildren on the family vacations and taught most of them, as well as his children, how to fish, cook over an open fire, an appreciation for the outdoor life, camping in the mountains with a tent, “Roughing It”.  Every museum was a new opportunity to teach his children an appreciation for the past.

            Calvin was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Aaron and Lyndon Hicks; two grandchildren, Mindy Wise and Jenna Hicks; one son-in-law, Phil Barbaree; three sisters, Doris Delano, Deloris Fowler and Florence Hicks; and three brothers, Gifford, Kenneth and Johnnie Hicks.

            Survivors include his wife, Joye; four children: Gwen Barbaree of Tryon, OK, Dennis Hicks and wife, Pam, Rita Wise and husband, Richard, and Noel Hicks and wife, Jean all of Guymon; nine grandchildren: Shawn Barbaree of Guymon, Tracie Mansfield of Tryon, OK, Tim Hicks and wife, Becky of Greeley, CO, Chad Hicks of Guymon, Cory Hicks and wife, Becky of Guymon, Jarrod Hicks of Oklahoma City, Brock Wise, Nathan Hicks and Chelsea Wise, all of Guymon; six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.  He is also survived by one sister, Wanda Shores of Kismet, KS, one brother, Merl Hicks and wife, Marie of Guymon, along with many special nephews, nieces and other relatives.

            Calvin looked forward to meeting new people and visiting with old friends.  He had a great memory for details and kept those around him entertained and laughing.  Calvin had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to play practical jokes on his wife, kids and grandkids.  He found humor in everyday life and never admitted that he was sick, claiming he was “Nature Boy” and was going to live to be 100.  He was 83 years young!  We will miss you Dad.

            Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, August 6^th at 3:00 p.m. at the Morning Star United Methodist Church in Hough with Rev. Katie Brown officiating.  Interment with military honors will follow in the Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon.  The family will greet friends  on Tuesday evening, August 5^th at the Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home between the hours of 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the Hicks family suggest that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or Feed The Children.  Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, Oklahoma 73942.  Friends and family may sign the online guest register at www.bunchroberts.com.