Kenneth Wayne Hicks

Kenneth Wayne Hicks, of Lake Limestone, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at age 69.

Visitation will be held in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, September 23, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Victory Baptist Church (Hwy. 14-S, Groesbeck), with Brother Ben David Watson officiating.

Pallbearers will be Mark Ruiz, John Mikus, Dylan Mikus, Kenneth Appelt, Mack McDonald and Roger Waits.   Honorary pallbearers will be Mandy Mikus, Caitlyn Curtis, Memphis Mikus, Emily Curtis, Kenneth Curtis, Avery Ruiz, and Joseph Ruiz.

Wayne was born January 15, 1953, to Kenneth Benjamin Hicks and Alice Hicks in Houston, and he grew up in Magnolia where he attended school.

His earliest work was hauling fuel for Henry Kennedy in the Magnolia, Tomball and Houston area, which led him to becoming the owner and manager of convenience stores in Magnolia.  He continued in the trucking business throughout his whole life and completed his career in trucking as a dispatcher for Outlaw Transportation, from his home at Lake Limestone.   He loved working and loved his job, working till the very last, as he planned to continue dispatching until his last breath.   He loved his job almost as much as his loved ones. 

Wayne was married to Verna Joy Waits on March 12, 1981, at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, until her death on January 23, 2021.  He was her sole caretaker, day in and day out, for four and one-half years during her illness until her death, and afterward said he would gladly do it again.

Wayne and Verna moved to Lake Limestone eleven years ago, seeking a more relaxed country life, and he loved life at “the ranch.”  He really loved his time living in the country, Lake Limestone, Thornton and Groesbeck.  He said he wouldn’t move back to the city “for love nor money.”

He moved away from the city, but not from his contacts.  Being a math-oriented man, he had all the phone numbers of his family, friends and the drivers memorized in his head.   Wayne enjoyed fishing in his boat, working in his yard, and visiting with friends.

The last year of Wayne’s life was one of the best of his life.   He did the things he wanted to do, traveled to the places he had always wanted to see: Alaska, Vegas, Mississippi, Lake Charles, and concerts.   He slowed down.   He had time to watch his grandchildren and his great grandson and get to know them.  His faith became the strongest his family had ever seen. His desire to return home to the ranch was an incentive for life.   He said, “put me behind that gate and let me stay.”

Wayne was a person who took the opportunity to help others.  He was a member of the Victory Baptist Church of Groesbeck.  He enjoyed having lunch with a large group of friends at the hospital cafeteria after Sunday morning services.   If you knew Wayne, you were a friend of his for life.  He came to love his son-in-law, John like a son (even though he was his boss) and loved his son-in-law, Mark because he took such good care of his daughter, Amber.   He told others he was a happy man knowing both of his daughters were taken care of by these sons-in-law.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Verna Joy Hicks.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Amber and Mark Ruiz of Conroe and Amanda and John Mikus of Magnolia; his son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Kristen Appelt of Oklahoma City, OK; nine grandchildren:  Caitlyn Curtis, Dylan Mikus, Kenneth Curtis, Emily Curtis, Memphis Mikus, Avery Ruiz, and Joseph Ruiz; and his great grandson, Sealy Barber.  He loved his dog, Rocky and his granddogs, Disco, Moonshine and Ciroc, with his whole heart.   He will be dearly missed by all his family, friends, and those closest to his heart.