Willis 'Sonny' Hicks

Willis Sonny Lee Hicks, son of the late Willis Paris and Effie Lee (Rhodes) Hicks, was born on December 13, 1952 in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and passed away on January 24, 2017 at his home in Springfield, Missouri. He was 64 years, 1 month, and 11 days of age.

Sonny worked as a correctional officer for several years, and helped to open the Fulton facility. Then he took to the road as a truck driver, which allowed him to travel the country and get paid for it!

Sonny was an avid traveler and he had visited most of the states throughout the country. He also loved the wilderness. He loved to fish, hunt, and he even enjoyed just taking pictures of the beauty that nature had to offer. Family was very important to him and he loved spending time with his wife, Kathy, and their kids and grandkids. Sonny never knew a stranger and he made many friends throughout his life.

He used to tell the story of how his baby sister got her name. According to him, their parents asked Willis what he wanted to name his baby sister, and he said Joan, and told them to spell it J-O-A-N.

Sonny is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Hicks, daughter, Laurana Hicks, and furry son Bubba Hicks of their home in Springfield, Missouri, as well as three sons, Brian Young, Jeremy Young (Christy) all of Springfield, Missouri, and Bobby Hicks of Jefferson City, Missouri, daughters, Lenora Boggs (Terry) of North Vernon, Indiana, Laura Shelvey (Jason) of Jefferson City, Missouri, Jessica Young (Jonathon) of West Plains, Missouri, Tammy Hicks of Springfield, Missouri, and Tammek Hicks of Cordova, Tennessee, twelve grandchildren, James, Tanis, Devon, Alex, Rickie James RJ, Miranda, Hailey, Brycenne, Grace, Lydia, Kila-Ren, and Trinadee, one sister, Joan Goforth (Gene) of Mountain Grove, Missouri, one nephew, Johnathon Goforth of Mountain Grove, Missouri, four aunts, Jeanette Riley (Eddie) of Ozark, Missouri, Allie Giles of Hernando, Mississippi, Patsy Ann Gray (Bill) of Kirbyville, Missouri, and Patricia Ipock (Gene) of Norwood, Missouri, and other extended family and friends who will miss him.


Visitation: Friday, January 27, 2017 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Funeral Service: Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.

Burial: Henderson Cemetery, Gentryville, MO

Memorial Contributions: May be made to Henderson Cemetery c/o the funeral home.