Hicks_Frances

**ALTA LA FRANCES GIST HICKS**
Bellville Times Funeral services for Alta La Frances Hicks, 86, of Bellville, Texas were held Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. from the First Baptist Church of Bellville with Reverend Steve Olson officiating. Interment was in Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville. Pallbearers were Joe Ed Lynn, Floyd Merten, Ray Lyn Merten, Lee Persky, Bill Lyth, and Kenneth Priesmeyer. Honorary Pallbearers were Scott David Richter, Charles Boyd, John Richter, John C. Lockwood, Steven William Richter, Jaxson Richter, Jeremy Lockwood and Ashlee Virgadamo. Frances was born into a loving family of her father Archie Gist and mother Nettie Lou Rhodes Gist and brothers Gordon Rayburn and Ray Garland Gist on January 27, 1921 in Oakdale, Louisiana. She passed away peacefully at her home with her loving family by her side on January 18, 2008. Frances grew up mostly in the East Texas town of Silsbee. During her late teens her family moved to Sealy, Texas where her father was an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad. She was one of the first cheerleaders for Sealy High School where she graduated in 1937. Frances was proud that she was born in Louisiana. She always believed the ³La² in her name was for the state of Louisiana. In fact, when she met the love of her life, William Lewis ³Bill² Hicks, she told him she wanted to be married in Oakdale, Louisiana. They were in fact married there on December 14, 1938. Bill and Frances later moved to Bellville, Texas where Bill was an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad. They built a new home at 213 South Holland in 1948. This is where Frances wanted to live out the rest of her life. By the grace of God, she was given this blessing with the help and support of her two daughters and Brazos Valley Hospice Care. Frances loved her family. They were her sole purpose in life. She was a faithful daughter, sister, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to her family. She loved to sew, cook, and garden. She enjoyed playing SkipBo and playing ³88² with her family and friends. Frances also did civic jobs such as being a volunteer at the hospital, working with the girl scouts and once doing the Red Cross Blood Drive at her church. Frances loved her Lord and served him whenever she could. She was baptized in 1945 at the First Baptist Church in Bellville. Frances helped with Sunbeams, vacation Bible School, Sunday school class for specially challenged children and was in charge of the Bereavement Committee¹s funeral meals for over 23 years. These were not ³jobs² to Frances; they were her gift of love to her Lord. Frances leaves behind two daughters, Bille Elaine Hicks Boyd and husband Charles of Red Rock, Texas and Janis Rae Hicks Richter and husband John David of Austin, Texas. Three grandsons, John Collins Lockwood, wife Teresa, Ashlee and Jeremy of Montgomery, Texas, Steven William Richter of Austin, Texas and Scott David, wife Michelle Ann and son Jaxson Thomas Richter of Round Rock, Texas and one sister-in-law Mildred Barclay and husband Billy of Silsbee, Texas. Nieces and nephews, and their children. Frances also leaves behind many close friends and two ³special sisters in Christ² Doris Lynn and Eura Bailey of Kenney and Bellville and her faithful dog, Buddy Boy. Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Nettie Lou Gist, brothers Gordon Rayburn and Ray Garland Gist, and her beloved husband, Bill Hicks. In Lieu of flowers please send your memorials in France¹s name to Brazos Valley Hospice, which is located at 302 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833, www.hospicebrazosvalley.org or to the First Baptist Church, 504 E. Strauss, Bellville, Texas 77418. Posted by Joy Neely

Bellville Times

Funeral services for Alta La Frances Hicks, 86, of Bellville, Texas
were held Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. from the First Baptist
Church of Bellville with Reverend Steve Olson officiating. Interment was in
Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville. Pallbearers were Joe Ed Lynn, Floyd Merten,
Ray Lyn Merten, Lee Persky, Bill Lyth, and Kenneth Priesmeyer. Honorary
Pallbearers were Scott David Richter, Charles Boyd, John Richter, John C.
Lockwood, Steven William Richter, Jaxson Richter, Jeremy Lockwood and Ashlee
Virgadamo.
Frances was born into a loving family of her father Archie Gist and mother
Nettie Lou Rhodes Gist and brothers Gordon Rayburn and Ray Garland Gist on
January 27, 1921 in Oakdale, Louisiana. She passed away peacefully at her
home with her loving family by her side on January 18, 2008.
Frances grew up mostly in the East Texas town of Silsbee. During her late
teens her family moved to Sealy, Texas where her father was an engineer for
the Santa Fe Railroad. She was one of the first cheerleaders for Sealy High
School where she graduated in 1937.
Frances was proud that she was born in Louisiana. She always believed the
³La² in her name was for the state of Louisiana. In fact, when she met the
love of her life, William Lewis ³Bill² Hicks, she told him she wanted to be
married in Oakdale, Louisiana. They were in fact married there on December
14, 1938.
Bill and Frances later moved to Bellville, Texas where Bill was an engineer
for the Santa Fe Railroad. They built a new home at 213 South Holland in
1948. This is where Frances wanted to live out the rest of her life. By the
grace of God, she was given this blessing with the help and support of her
two daughters and Brazos Valley Hospice Care.
Frances loved her family. They were her sole purpose in life. She was a
faithful daughter, sister, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great
grandmother to her family. She loved to sew, cook, and garden. She enjoyed
playing SkipBo and playing ³88² with her family and friends. Frances also
did civic jobs such as being a volunteer at the hospital, working with the
girl scouts and once doing the Red Cross Blood Drive at her church. Frances
loved her Lord and served him whenever she could. She was baptized in 1945
at the First Baptist Church in Bellville. Frances helped with Sunbeams,
vacation Bible School, Sunday school class for specially challenged children
and was in charge of the Bereavement Committee¹s funeral meals for over 23
years. These were not ³jobs² to Frances; they were her gift of love to her
Lord.
Frances leaves behind two daughters, Bille Elaine Hicks Boyd and husband
Charles of Red Rock, Texas and Janis Rae Hicks Richter and husband John
David of Austin, Texas. Three grandsons, John Collins Lockwood, wife Teresa,
Ashlee and Jeremy of Montgomery, Texas, Steven William Richter of Austin,
Texas and Scott David, wife Michelle Ann and son Jaxson Thomas Richter of
Round Rock, Texas and one sister-in-law Mildred Barclay and husband Billy of
Silsbee, Texas. Nieces and nephews, and their children. Frances also leaves
behind many close friends and two ³special sisters in Christ² Doris Lynn and
Eura Bailey of Kenney and Bellville and her faithful dog, Buddy Boy.
Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Nettie Lou Gist,
brothers Gordon Rayburn and Ray Garland Gist, and her beloved husband, Bill
Hicks.
In Lieu of flowers please send your memorials in France¹s name to Brazos
Valley Hospice, which is located at 302 E. Blue Bell Road, Brenham, Texas
77833, www.hospicebrazosvalley.org or to the First Baptist Church, 504 E.
Strauss, Bellville, Texas 77418.

Posted by Joy Neely

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