James Earnest “Jim” Hicks died Feb. 28, 2026 at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple at the age of 88.
Jim was born May 23, 1937 in Lampasas County at Bend to William Robert “Bob” Hicks and Jennie May Towerton. He spent most of his life at Bend.
A celebration of his life will be held March 15 at Bend Methodist Church at 2 p.m., with visitation after.
Jim graduated from Lampasas High School in 1955.
In April 1960, he married Orabeth Landers. In April 2026, they would have been married 66 years.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in August 1960 and was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington until his discharge in August 1962.
He was a past member of the Texas Young Farmers at San Saba and past president of the Bend Community Association. He welded for the public for many years. In later years, he got a lot of pleasure trapping wild hogs for the public.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Emily Ann Bryant; brothers Robert Lee Hicks, Douglas Hicks, Tommy Hicks, John Hicks and Raymond Hicks; and a sister, Willie Morgan.
He is survived by his wife, Orabeth Hicks; son, Jimmy Hicks; daughters Elaina Hooten (Rodney) and Lewann Turner (Chad); granddaughters Ruby Amthor (Marcus), Jimma Guidroz (Ryan), Elizabeth Poe (Winston), Catherine Hicks, Kenlee Turner and Ashlyn Ellis (Russton); grandsons Ralston Hooten (Brooke), John Brooks (Alyssa) and Wes Bryant (Michelle); great-granddaughters Zoe Poe, Chloe Poe, Aubrie Guidroz, Sadie Brooks, Parker Brooks and Aveigh Galbreath; great-grandsons Rein Hooten, Hayden Guidroz, Macon Amthor, Rhett Ellis and Tate Poe; brothers Roland Hicks and Paul Hicks; and sisters Shirley Norris, Pam Hicks, Kathy Carroll and Roxie Schlegel.
Memorials may be made to Bend Methodist Church or Bend Cemetery Association.
