Johnny Mitchell Hicks, 75, of Orrick, Mo., passed away Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the Ray County Memorial Hospital in Richmond, Mo. Johnny was born in Manila, Ark., on February 27, 1944 to Coy William Hicks and Euna May (Maxwell) Hicks. He was a 1962 graduate of Manila High School.
Johnny was united in marriage to Gearldean Johnson on July 2, 1966. Johnny and Gearldean moved to Orrick in 1979. He was last employed as a machinist for Automatic Systems Inc. (ASI) in Kansas City for 15 years and retired in 2005. Before his employment with ASI, he had worked for Deans Research in Kansas City and later for the P&K Manufacturing Co. in Orrick.
He was a member of The Church of Christ. Johnny loved to hunt, especially loved deer hunting. He also loved gardening, woodworking and working on cars. He loved being with his family and especially his kids and grandkids, and loved being at their baseball games.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Neil, Noel, Wesley and Nail.
Johnny is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Gearldean Hicks, of the home in Orrick; his children, Sonja Younger of Orrick, Mo., Bobby and Jennifer Hicks of Orrick, Mo., and Mitchell and Trenda Hicks of Kearney, Mo.; grandchildren, Kyle, Ashley, Ryker, Maverek, Natasha, and Summit; brothers, Hershel Hicks of Denver, Colo., Eddie Hicks of Jonesboro, Ark., Waymon Hicks of Bay, Ark.; sisters, Anges House and Alice Alsup, both of Orrick, Mo., and Betty St. John of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; his adopted children, Jeff and Laura McElwee of Orrick, Mo.; and his adopted grandchildren, Stephanie, Kierstin, Mikey and Joey McElwee of Orrick, Mo. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Gowing Funeral Home in Orrick. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Mr. Woody Fincher. Burial will follow at Riffe Cemetery, northwest of Orrick, Mo.
Memorials in Johnny’s memory are suggested to The American Cancer Society.