Barbourville, Ky. – Hershel Orie Hicks entered into his heavenly home on October 22, 2024, with his wife and children by his side. He was born on April 15, 1950, in Ages, Kentucky, to Maggie and Orie Hicks. After High School, he married the love of his life, Melinda. Together, they raised two children, Kevin and Michelle. Hershel worked in the coal mines for 27 years for Eastover and Manalapan Companies.
Hershel was a very athletic man. In his younger years, he excelled in basketball and softball. During the 1970s, Hershel played for Raiders Softball Team, where he achieved many accolades, including being inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame in 1989. One of his records, hitting 16 homeruns during one tournament, still stands today. He loved UK basketball and cheering on the Scott County Cardinals, coached by his late brother, Billy, until 2019. He also cheered loud for any team his family played for. In addition to cheering for teams, he spent many years coaching, himself. Hershel was an avid fisherman. He taught his kids and grandkids how to fish. He spent many days on the water, and his favorite spot was Cherokee Lake.
Hershel was a member of Beacon Baptist Church in Barbourville, Kentucky. His faith was very important to him. Before his illness, there was hardly a Sunday or Wednesday that he would miss church. Each Sunday morning at his house, you could hear the “Gospel Greats” playing over the radio. Over the years, his interactions and witness with others led many to Christ. He drove the van to help pick up kids to bring them to church. He and Melinda served as Youth Leaders for a time. At Beacon, he was known as the “Sucker Man”, and gave suckers to every kid in the church before the service started.
As much as he loved sports and fishing, he loved his family with everything in him. His wife, children, and grandchildren were his world. He was the ultimate hype man, and cheered on his family in every single thing they did. He had a servant’s heart, and lived to serve his family. He would often make his famous cheeseburgers and homemade french fries for his grandkids and their friends after school. He introduced them to Coca Cola before they could walk. There was never a time you would go to his house that he wouldn’t offer you a pop or a Little Debbie cake. He was known for his one-liners, and could make his whole family laugh without even realizing that what he said was funny. He had a quick wit, and loved nothing more than his whole family being together under one roof.
Hershel is preceded in death by his parents, Orie and Maggie Hicks; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ernest and Jeanette Smith; brothers Venice, Robert, Ken, and Billy Hicks; sisters Kathleen Smith and Bernice Larsen; brother-in-laws Paul Alan Smith, Chan Smith, and Gene Larsen, and nephews David Arthur and Tyler Hicks.
Hershel is survived by his wife and best friend of over 52 years, Melinda; his son, Kevin, and daughter, Michelle; his daughter-in-law, Christina, and son-in-law, Scott; his grandchildren, Logan (Cameron) Hicks, Connor (Abby) Hicks, Meredith (Coby) Cima, Cole (Promise) Hicks, Makenna (Grant) Dickerson, Maddie Jo Russell, Raylan Hicks; his great-grandchildren, Kyden Russell and Blake Cima, and another one on the way; and a very special girl, Grace Scent. Hershel is also survived by his siblings, Joyce (Bob) Gooding, Linda (Craig) Shoe, and Teresa (Jerry) Haynes; his sister-in-laws, Betsy Hicks, Paula (David) Stephens, Marilyn Ellenburg; two special nephews, who were more like sons, Jim (Mellanie) Hicks, and Jordan Ellenburg, and a host of other nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
There will never be another man like Hershel. He was loved by all, and will be so missed by all those who knew him, especially his family.
Obituary written by Mr. Logan Hicks
The Hicks family will receive friends at Beacon Baptist Church, Bimble, Kentucky, Friday, October, 25, 2024 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Saturday, October 26, from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour of 1:00 PM. Reverends Dennis Chesnut and Pat Chesnut will officiate. Musical tributes will be performed by Pat Chesnut and Ashley, Emily, and Layla Wyatt. The family has chosen Mr. Hicks grandsons to be casket bearers.
The Hopper Family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, along with the funeral home staff, Mr. Robin Reese, Mrs. Lorena Blankenship and Mr. Reid Brewer, offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Hershel Orie Hicks.
Hopper Funeral Home, established over 100 years ago, is in charge of servicing all arrangements for Hershel Orie Hicks.
