Oleta Hicks, daughter of the late Homer Stumbaugh and Rosie Freeman Stumbaugh, was born on April 5, 1935 in Lamar, Arkansas and departed this life on October 26, 2015 at her residence in Essex at the age of 80.

Mrs. Hicks worked for the Richland School District as a secretary for thirty-four years.

On December 24, 1954, she was united in marriage to Cecil Hicks in Yuma, Arizona.  Mrs. Hicks preceded her in death on September 16, 2015.

She is survived by one son, Keith Hicks and his wife Evelyn of Essex, Missouri; by one daughter, Sheryll Page of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; By one sister, Loreta Watson of Wappapello, Missouri; by four grandchildren, Nick Cozby, Katie Cozby, Ryan Hicks and Ashley Hicks; by three great-grandchildren, Lily Cozby, Ryker Cozby and Hudson Daugherty; by one step-grandson, Luke Patrick; and by one step-great-grandson, Finn Patrick.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Erma Hemphill.

A graveside service will be conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. James Malloy and Rev. Ronnie Ledbetter officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9908 or the Stoddard County Children's Home Memorial Tribute Fund, P. O. Box 164, Dexter, Missouri 63841.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.