Genevieve Hicks

Genevieve I. (Posey) Hicks, 89, died Monday, October 20, at Overland Park Nursing & Rehab Center. She was born and raised in Black Hawk County, Iowa, and earned a teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls. She taught rural school in Black Hawk County until her marriage to William Herschel Hicks in 1945. They lived in Marshalltown, Iowa, until 1966, then Springfield, Mo. She was widowed in 1987. Genevieve moved to Overland Park in 2003. She was active in church and was a born-again Christian. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marshalltown and Springfield, and Emmanuel Baptist Church in Overland Park. Genevieve ran a private preschool in their home in Iowa. In Springfield she ran Andy and Ann’s daycare in her home, then was director for Salvation Army Daycare, and La Petite Academy. After 23 years in early childhood education, she then worked 16 years with senior citizens. In retirement she loved reading, flower gardening, and raising African violets; she continued working with children as a volunteer for 13 years. She was a longtime foster grandparent in Springfield and briefly at Valley View Methodist Preschool in Overland Park, through 2005. She is survived by two sons, a daughter and a stepdaughter: Herschel (Renee) Hicks, II, Birmingham, Mich., Lloyd (Patty) Hicks, Springfield, Mo., Elizabeth (Theodore) Fulk, Overland Park, Kan., and Jane Bean, Littleton, Mass., as well as two sisters-in-law, six nieces, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandsons. The family wishes to thank the staff at Overland Park Nursing & Rehab for their many Christian kindness and the wonderful caring spirit they showed to Genevieve in her 19 months there. They were instrumental in her having many months of a semi-active life, despite her macular degeneration. The family is grateful to Dove Ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church for their friendship, many cards, and visits to Genevieve since she had become home bound. Memorial service is 11 a.m. Friday, October 31, at the First Baptist Church in Springfield. Send condolences through the church by email to valerie@firstspringfield.com. The family suggests donations in her memory to First Baptist Church, 525 South Ave., Springfield, MO 65806, for use with their early childhood program.