Willie DeWitt Hicks

Willie Dewitt Hicks, age 92, of Natchitoches, LA, passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at Heritage Manor Rehabilitation and Retirement Center in Natchitoches, LA. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA, where the family will receive friends from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Friday, January 16, 2009. The funeral service will be at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home at 11:00 AM Friday, January 16, 2009, with Rev. Ron Thompson officiating. Interment will be at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. W. D. served in the Navy during World War II. He was on a mine sweeper ship serving in the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. He visited many countries including, France, Spain, Greece, The Philippines, and others. Returning home from the military, he and his brother Sammie, bought the property that is now home to the Alligator Farm in Powhattan. They raised row crops and cattle for many years. He still had a great interest in farming and would admire the crops and enjoy seeing the farmers working the Earth. He was mindful about natural resources and what they meant to future generations. He was also a very good gardener. He was a kind, generous man who loved his family and friends. Thank you W.D. for being such a blessing in our lives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Dewitt Hicks and Rena Hubbard Hicks; five sisters, Lurline Hicks Savill, Christine Hicks Walker, Argerine Hicks Scott, Ruby Dean Hicks Ainsworth, and Nadine Hicks Peek; three brothers, George Herbert Hicks, Sammie Hicks, and James Carson Hicks; He is survived by two nephews, W. Eugene Ainsworth and wife Janiece of Melrose, LA and Dennis Hicks and wife Pat of Natchitoches, LA; four nieces, Betty A. Gilcrease and husband James of Campti, LA, Janet Ainsworth, Carol H. Hebert and Sherry H. Ballard of Natchitoches, LA; other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews that live out of the Natchitoches, LA area. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Heritage Manor and Natchitoches Hospice staff for making our loved one comfortable.