LARNED — Joe Dudley Hicks, 64, died Dec. 9 at his home, Larned. He was born Sept. 19, 1949 in Great Bend, the son of Burl Dudley and Eunice Lucille Shuss Hicks. A lifetime area resident he was a Registered Nurse at the Larned State Hospital for 30 years retiring in 2001.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Fort Larned Arms Association, and American Legion, all of Larned, National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited. He served in the National Guard at the rank of E5 Sgt. from 1967–1973. He was a gunsmith for over 40 years, an avid gun collector, loved to hunt, work on guns and listen to music. Above all else he loved to spend time with friends and family. He was always entertaining his family and friends with the best stories and was always around to listen, smile and laugh.
On Oct. 21, 1972 he married Anna Lucille Svaty at Ellsworth.  She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Shawn David Hicks, Larned; a daughter, Wendy Jo Leiker and husband Paul, Larned; two sisters, Nancy Miller, Larned and Cindy Gilbert and husband Mark, Newton, Iowa; two granddaughters, Alexandria and Makayla Leiker, Larned; and a host of other family and friends .
He was preceded in death by:  his parents, Dudley and Lucille Hicks; his mother and father-in-law, Garfield and Lucille Svaty, and his step-mother, Nellie Hicks
Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Seth Svaty presiding.  Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.  Cremation has taken place.
Memorials may be given to the South Wind Hospice or the Pawnee County Humane Society, both in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.  Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary, Inc.**
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS 67550
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 10, 2013