JUNE HICKS

Melba June (Turner) Hicks, 64, of Gainesville, MO died peacefully at her home, after spending four months at Barnes Hospital in St Louis, MO undergoing treatment for AML.
June, the daughter of Loren "Windy" Turner and Pauline (Haskins) Turner, was born November 2, 1954, in Springfield, MO, and grew up on their family farm at Foil, MO. She attended Thornfield Elementary School and Ava High School, then transferred to Gainesville High School, graduating from there in 1972. She received her teaching degree from College of the Ozarks, and went on to receive a master's degree from MSU in Springfield, MO. She taught first at Lutie Elementary School in Theodosia and retired from the Gainesville School District after devoting 30 years to elementary teaching. She was dedicated to her teaching career in all aspects, but especially passionate about teaching children to read.

June was married to Steve Hicks on March 23, 1984 in Branson, MO. She and Steve would have celebrated 35 years of marriage this month. Her greatest joys in life were their two children, Trevor Hicks, a teacher at Gainesville School, and Jordan Hicks, a radiology technician in Springfield, MO. June loved to work in her garden and enjoyed canning her own vegetables and caring for her beautiful flower beds. She and Steve attended church at Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church in Gainesville, and she was a long-time member of Mt. Lebanon General Baptist Church at Foil, MO.

She is survived by her husband Steve of the home; her son Trevor Hicks and wife Kaylee; her daughter Jordan Hicks; her sister Gay Strong and husband Gene and their three children Sherrie, Pattie and Toby; her sister Judy Turner and special friend Curtis Williams; her brother Leon Turner and wife Cindy and their daughter Kelly; her sister-in-law Judy Turner Schlichting and her daughter Taylor Jo; and cousins by the dozens, who all keep in close contact with each other.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Joe Turner.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2019 at the Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church in Gainesville with Leon Turner and Dale Roberts officiating. Interment of cremains will be at a later date at Thornfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, June requested any memorial donations be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.