Barbara "Barb" Hicks

Barbara Kaye "Barb" Hicks passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord with her family surrounding her, Saturday morning, March 11, 2023.
Barbara Kaye Rafferty-Hicks was born on June 18, 1940, to Virgil and Zoa Erhardt-Rafferty in Prairie Hill, MO.  The family a few years later moved to Moberly MO where they would make their residence on Woodland Ave.

 
Barbara was a very giving and selfless woman with a servant’s heart.  She would be one of the first people to jump in to help out.  She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty; she just did what was needed to get the job done.  Barbara’s bright blue eyes and beautiful smile would light up the darkest room.  She never met a stranger and always made you feel right at home.
While in high school, Barbara met the love of her life.  Even in her last almost two years of life, while a stroke had taken a big part of her, she would light up when her Johnny entered the room.  Johnny and Barbara were married over 63 years.  During their years of marriage, they lived in Moberly, Fulton, Linn and Clark, MO. 
Barbara always worked outside the home, most of which was in administrative assistant roles.  But the one thing Barbara always desired to do was be a teacher of business.  After her children were raised and out of the home, Barbara went back to school attending at night to complete her Bachelor of Science degree. After receiving that degree, she continued her education and in May of 1992 was awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration.  Barbara then began teaching Business courses at Linn Technical College, a dream come true for her.    
Barbara did not let time or age get in her way of learning new things.  She never learned to swim as a child, so took swimming lessons as an adult.  She also took dance lessons, cake decorating lessons, ceramics, and piano lessons.  She was a gifted seamstress making dresses for school dances, dance recital costumes and Halloween costumes for her granddaughter and herself. She knitted too; mainly knitting baby Afghans to gift to family and church friends.  She was an excellent cook and baker.  Just ask her family about her homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls.   She also had a green thumb, growing some beautiful roses and other flowers at her home.
Barbara was a wonderful mom to her two daughters, Tammy and Theresa (Terri) and an amazing MaMa to her grandchildren, Randa and Caleb.  She always looked forward to those weekends when her “kids” would come home.  She made sure favorite foods were cooked and that preferred junk food item was sitting on the counter waiting for you.  She wanted those times to be spent just enjoying time with each other playing cards, board games, shooting pool, playing washers or whatever.  She would always say “don’t worry about the dishes, I can clean the kitchen later.”
Barbara loved her family and loved going to events with family or hosting at her home.  She had a contagious laugh which we still remember.   When family got together, there was always lots of food and game playing.  Barbara made holidays special for her family, especially Christmas.  She always seemed to know of a special gift for each person that they themselves would have never thought to ask for.  She also liked to put a little fun in gift giving either by the way it was wrapped or having you go on a scavenger hunt to find your special present.  Christmas was also a time to enjoy her Barbie and Disney Christmas trees.
Barbara was a member of the First Baptist Church during her time in Moberly. She served as a Sunday School teacher for the children’s ministry and helped with other children’s activities.  After moving to Linn, MO she joined the First Baptist Church of Linn.  Barbara served as a Sunday School teacher for the Senior Adult Ladies, helped with VBS and providing meals for events.  Barbara was also part of the search committee for their current pastor of 35 years. 
Barbara loved animals especially dogs and horses.  Her dogs were just furry children to her. Over the many years in the Hicks home, you would find a dog or two and maybe a one or two cats. Over the past 35 plus years she was dog mom to 6 different Bassett Hounds.  Barbara took great care of the wildlife near her home.  The birds, deer and squirrels never went hungry.  She especially loved feeding hummingbirds.  Her feeders in Linn would be swarmed by multiple hummers.  She never did get that horse she always wanted, but we can only imagine that she is riding a beauty in her heavenly home. 
If you ever had a chance to visit Barbara’s home, you wouldn’t get past the front door to discover that she was an avid antique collector.  They covered the house from pieces of furniture to small primitive pieces. 
Barbara attended school in Moberly, starting at Southeast Park and receiving her high school diploma in 1958.  During Barbara’s elementary and high school years, she was blessed with a wonderful group of forever friends that she remained close with until her passing.  They would meet regularly for lunches to catch up and just share the love that they had for each other since childhood. 
In her free time, Barbara liked to read, but more than that she carried the Rafferty gene for watching westerns whether it was a John Wayne movie or a TV series, she enjoyed them all.  She was also a fan of mystery shows.  Barbara loved her James Bond movies and didn’t miss a one as long as she was able to attend.  However, watching the St. Louis Cardinals play took precedence over any TV program. 

Barbara is survived by her husband, Johnny Hicks, Moberly, MO; daughter and son-in-love, Tammy and Craig Warson of Blue Springs, MO; daughter Theresa (Terri) Hicks of St. Louis, MO; granddaughter Randa Crutcher of London, England; grandson Caleb Warson of Blue Springs, MO; two brothers Bill (Brenda) Rafferty of Moberly and Tom Rafferty of Wellsville, MO.   Beverly Coureton, Wanda Mathis, Leon Hicks(deceased), Nadine Pastrovich, Charles Hicks, Randy Hicks, Bobbi Smith, and their spouses were family by marriage, but in Barbara’s eyes they were just additional brothers and sisters.  Barbara is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Barbara’s heavenly homecoming was sure to have been a wonderful reception by her parents, parents-in-law, other family members, special friends, and classmates and of course to be in the glory of Jesus.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to:
St. Judes Children’s Hospital for Children
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105 USA
donors@stjude.org
OR
Missouri Bassett Hound Rescue
https://donate.rescueme.org/bassethound

Words of comfort and support were held at the Cater Funeral Home. The next day a funeral service honoring and celebrating Barb's life was held  at the First Assembly of God Church., Committal prayer and burial took place in the Felps cemetery.