Mr. Robert D. Hicks, Sr., 81, of Shelburne Falls died peacefully at home on Sunday, September 30, 2018. He was born in Charlemont on May 30, 1937, a son of the late Roy and Ethel (MacDonald) Hicks. He attended Charlemont High School; where he was an accomplished athlete, exceling in baseball and basketball.
Following high school he went to work at Kendall Mills in Colrain, where he worked for 43 years. Mr. Hicks served in the National Guard of Massachusetts as an SP4 Cook for Company L 104. He was a co-owner and constant smiling face at the family’s restaurant; “Mother’s” in Shelburne Falls and remained active until his last day making products for “Mother’s Inc.”, the family’s specialty foods business.
Bob loved spending time with his family and friends. He took great pleasure in hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, gardening, trips to visit family and attending sports or school events for his children and grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching the New York Yankees and New England Patriots.
In his early years he volunteered as a baseball and basketball coach for teams his children played on. Bob played softball and was a Pitcher for a number of years on the “Kendall Mills” and “Adams Farmers” Men’s Softball Teams. He took pride in the number of awards his children received with their 4-H animals and enjoyed watching them show at the various Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions.
This was evidenced by his willingness to devote every weekend in August and September to truck livestock and kids from fair to fair. During this same period, he operated the concession stand at the Mohawk Drive-in Theatre with Teresa and his family. He enjoyed all of these interests, hobbies and additional jobs, never voicing a complaint.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Teresa L. Peters, whom he married on November 17, 1956; 3 Daughters – Terry Ziemba of Adams and her husband Michael, Maryanne Gallarneau of Southwick and her husband Rick and Nancy Senecal of Bradford, VT and her husband Eric; 5 Sons – Craig Hicks of South Hadley and his wife Nancy, John Hicks of Shelburne and his wife Kim, James Hicks of Buckland and his wife Pam, Robert Hicks, Jr. of Shelburne Falls and his wife Karen and Vincent Hicks of Hampstead, NC and his wife Beth; 1 Sister – Ruth Miller of North Carolina, as well as 23 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by two brothers and one sister; Ernest Hicks, Norman Hicks and Ruby Maynard. Funeral Notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 11 o’clock on Saturday, October 6th in Greenfield, at the Holy Trinity Church on Main St. A private burial will follow and there are no calling hours.
The Smith & Kelleher Funeral Home, Inc. in Shelburne Falls, is in charge of arrangements. And memorial donations may be made to Mohawk Athletic Association, PO Box 111, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 or PopCares Cancer Fund, PO Box 482, Williamstown, MA 01267.
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