Verna Joy Hicks

Verna Joy Hicks, of Lake Limestone, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2021, ending her earthly struggles with cancer to spend eternity in peace and joy with her Heavenly Father and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at the Victory Baptist Church in Groesbeck, with her brother, “Preacher” Roger Waits,  and Pastor Ben David Watson officiating. 

Pallbearers will be Roger Waits, Jr., Kenneth Appelt, Mack McDonald, Josh McDonald, Christian Bartlett, and David Snow.

Verna was born February 15, 1955 in Conroe to Homer Wilson Waits, Jr. and Alta Iva (Cronin) Waits.   She grew up in Magnolia where she graduated from High School.

Verna was united in marriage with Kenneth Wayne Hicks on March 12, 1981 at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.    She and Wayne had known each other since school days and she went to work for him at his two convenience stores in Magnolia. 

Verna was so friendly that the customers loved coming to the store to talk to her.  Verna had many friends always, and in Magnolia, her “BFF” was Vicki McDonald.   They did everything together.  

Wayne and Verna decided to retire from city life and moved to Lake Limestone ten years ago.  Wayne kept two phones for her to stay in touch with all her friends when she moved.

When they moved to Lake Limestone, she immediately became friends with her neighbors and anyone else she met and became involved with the West Lake Volunteer Fire Department.  She became very good friends with Sheryl Davis and this led their husbands, Wayne and Henry to also become great friends.  She also enjoyed her boxer dog friends.

For a long time, Verna enjoyed being out in the boat with Wayne, fishing at the lake.   The Hicks held a huge fish fry every Labor Day weekend for the past 13 years, for family and friends.  This was well organized with designated cooks, and T-shirts made for the occasion, and Verna very much enjoyed each one.

She was an active member of the Victory Baptist Church at Groesbeck and was always interested in providing food when needed.   She and Wayne both loved to help other people.   And they enjoyed eating lunch with their friends after Sunday church services.

In addition to her friends, her mother lived near and her sister Madlyn moved to the area and were there with her during her health struggles, along with her devoted husband.

Verna is preceded in death by her father, H.W. Waits, Jr. and mother, Alta Iva (Cronin) Waits.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne Hicks of Thornton; daughter and son-in-law, Amber and Mark Ruiz of Conroe; daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and John Mikus of Magnolia; son, Kenneth Appelt of Oklahoma City, OK; sister and brother-in-law, Madlyn and Billy Heaton of Groesbeck; brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Roberta Waits of Magnolia; seven grandchildren and one great grandson. 

Memorials may be made to Victory Baptist Church, Groesbeck, TX.