Delores LaVerne Reaves Hicks

Delores LaVerne Reaves Hicks, 75, a longtime resident of El Dorado Springs, passed away Jan. 3, 2011, at Barone Care Center in Nevada. She was born in Mansfield on March 19, 1935, to Virgie and Jesse Reaves.

Delores was raised in Pacetown where she met her future husband, Lawrence.

She married Lawrence Edward Hicks on June 13, 1951. They would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. To this union, eight children were born -- Lawrence Lee, Joyce Lynn, Shirley Jean, Carol Deane, Douglas Allen, Janet Christine, Cheryl Ann and Brenda JoAnne.

She worked hard to raise her children, making sure they were in church on Sundays and always had plenty to eat. She will always be remembered for her biscuits and chocolate gravy, her flower and vegetable gardens, paintings and her antiques. She loved spending time with her family and especially loved fishing with Lawrence.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgie and Jesse Reaves; a sister, Beulah Ann Gardner; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Delores is survived by her husband, Lawrence, of the home; children, Lawrence Lee Hicks and Karen, Colorado, Joyce and Jim Wallace, Nevada, Mo., Shirley and Gary Vickers, Harwood, Mo., Carol and Greg Girven, El Dorado Springs, Mo., Doug and Sue Hicks, Battiest, Okla., Janet Hicks and Oscar Heredia, High Hill, Cheryl and Allen Layton, Nixa, and Brenda and Bill Parsley, El Dorado Springs; brothers, James Reaves and wife, Alpha, El Dorado Springs, Don Reaves and wife, Dorothy, El Dorado Springs, John Reaves and wife, Hazel, Kansas City, Derrell Ray Reaves and wife, Jean, Red Bluff, Calif., and Herb Reaves and wife, Marie, Los Molinos, Calif.; a sister, Bernice Davis, Bakersfield, Calif.; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation began at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 5, at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home in El Dorado Springs. Following visitation, graveside services were held in the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery. Pallbearers were her six daughters. She will be fondly remembered in the hearts of many.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the activities department at the Barone Care Center in Nevada.

Arrangements were by Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home in El Dorado Springs.