Mary Evelyn Hicks
May 14, 1919 — April 4, 2025
What a life it was for our friend Evelyn Hicks of Pleasant Grove, Alabama.
Ms. Evelyn’s granddaughter Heather Pennington contacted me last night to tell me Ms. Evelyn went to Heaven 2 days ago.
One month before her 106th birthday.
Evelyn's life could make for a movie- she went through a lot in her life, yet she kept on ticking without complaining.
Evelyn was born in Edgewater, Alabama in 1919.
She moved to Birmingham and attended Minor High School, and at the age of 18 married her love Harmon.
In 1939, two years into her marriage, Evelyn nearly died.
She was stoking her wood stove when a hot ash struck her house coat and set her on fire.
Her husband rolled her up in a rug and saved her life, but Evelyn was in tough shape.
Doctors told Evelyn she would never walk again, but with hard work her life was reborn.
She learned to walk.
She learned to fish and hunt.
She learned to raise chickens and pigs.
She learned to play the guitar.
She went to nursing school, worked in a dental office and learned to sew, quilt and knit.
Harmon and Evelyn bought their dream house in Pleasant Grove in 1950 and Evelyn lived there until that dreaded day of April 27th, 2011.
Evelyn was widowed and 92 years old at the time.
She heard the tornado warnings and hid in a closet while sitting in a chair.
As the tornado struck, the entire structure was blown away except one closet wall and a chair.
That's where Evelyn happened to be sitting.
As she had done all of her life, Evelyn Hicks kept on keepin' on.
She lost her daughter Margie a few years back, and at the age of 103 insisted that she go to the funeral.
"It's the least I could do for my daughter," she said. Evelyn was also predeceased by her brothers, Hershell and Howard Morrow and sister, Helen Black. Survivors include her daughter, Linda Usry; son, Bill Hicks and sister, Ruth Ann Bastin; 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Evelyn gave up driving at the age 98, insisting it wasn't she who was the problem but the crazies on the road.
She knew the Bible like the back of her hand, and she continued to knit while eating plenty of vegetables.
Evelyn Hicks lived nearly 106 years because of her toughness and resiliency and faith.
She made our world a better place.
I hope Evelyn and Harmon are together again.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 9, 2025 beginning at 11:00 AM at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church with interment in the adjoining cemetery, Rev. John Gates officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 AM until service time.
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pattersonfuneralhomes.com
Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Hicks family during their time of bereavement.
Ms. Evelyn’s granddaughter Heather Pennington contacted me last night to tell me Ms. Evelyn went to Heaven 2 days ago.
One month before her 106th birthday.
Evelyn's life could make for a movie- she went through a lot in her life, yet she kept on ticking without complaining.
Evelyn was born in Edgewater, Alabama in 1919.
She moved to Birmingham and attended Minor High School, and at the age of 18 married her love Harmon.
In 1939, two years into her marriage, Evelyn nearly died.
She was stoking her wood stove when a hot ash struck her house coat and set her on fire.
Her husband rolled her up in a rug and saved her life, but Evelyn was in tough shape.
Doctors told Evelyn she would never walk again, but with hard work her life was reborn.
She learned to walk.
She learned to fish and hunt.
She learned to raise chickens and pigs.
She learned to play the guitar.
She went to nursing school, worked in a dental office and learned to sew, quilt and knit.
Harmon and Evelyn bought their dream house in Pleasant Grove in 1950 and Evelyn lived there until that dreaded day of April 27th, 2011.
Evelyn was widowed and 92 years old at the time.
She heard the tornado warnings and hid in a closet while sitting in a chair.
As the tornado struck, the entire structure was blown away except one closet wall and a chair.
That's where Evelyn happened to be sitting.
As she had done all of her life, Evelyn Hicks kept on keepin' on.
She lost her daughter Margie a few years back, and at the age of 103 insisted that she go to the funeral.
"It's the least I could do for my daughter," she said. Evelyn was also predeceased by her brothers, Hershell and Howard Morrow and sister, Helen Black. Survivors include her daughter, Linda Usry; son, Bill Hicks and sister, Ruth Ann Bastin; 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Evelyn gave up driving at the age 98, insisting it wasn't she who was the problem but the crazies on the road.
She knew the Bible like the back of her hand, and she continued to knit while eating plenty of vegetables.
Evelyn Hicks lived nearly 106 years because of her toughness and resiliency and faith.
She made our world a better place.
I hope Evelyn and Harmon are together again.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 9, 2025 beginning at 11:00 AM at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church with interment in the adjoining cemetery, Rev. John Gates officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 AM until service time.
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pattersonfuneralhomes.com
Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Hicks family during their time of bereavement.
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