Our beloved brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Jack Edward Hicks, 87, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022, at his home in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. Born on March 25, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky, he was the fourth child of Thomas Marcelous and Catherine (Pfau) Hicks. While still a teenager, he joined the United States Air Force, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars as an air traffic controller. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star for his exemplary leadership, personal endeavor, and devotion to duty. He married Amy Edge Jankovitz in 1960, adopting and raising her daughter, Sherry, as his own. They had three more daughters, Susan, Cynthia, and Jacqueline, each born in a different place as they traveled the world. He was completely outnumbered since all the pets were female, too. They were later divorced. Jack retired from the Air Force after almost 22 years of faithful service and love for his country. He then married Patricia Sheppard. They were later divorced. After his retirement, Jack attended the University of South Alabama, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He then started his second career as a teacher of Government and Economics in the Alabama school system. He loved seeing the light go on when his students at Fairhope High School
understood the concepts he was teaching them. He also enjoyed coaching cross country. In addition to a love of country and education, Jack exemplified hard work his whole life, both as an employee and a volunteer. He had a strong love for and testimony of his Savior, Jesus Christ. He also had a great love for his family and never missed an opportunity to tell them how proud he was of them even in his last days when talking became difficult for
him. For the last eleven years of his life, Jack was blessed to be a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home which he enjoyed tremendously. The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the staff and residents for the loving care he received there. We would also like to thank the staff at the Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi, and the staff at Hospice of Light for their care in his final weeks. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Thomas and Robert, sister Yvonne, and grandson Thomas. He is survived by brother, James, sister-in-law Ann, daughters Sherry, Susan, Cynthia, and Jacqueline, and their spouses, eleven grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren with one on the way. Funeral services were held October 12, 2022, at the Armed Forces Retirement Home Chapel, officiated by Pastor Michael Gibson.
