Mariann Hicks

Although she was taken from her loved ones without warning, Mariann Hicks left no doubt in the minds of her loved ones of just how deeply they were loved. She was selfless, caring, and generous - the sort of person who would do whatever she could for others in ways both great and small. A more devoted family woman would be hard to find as Mariann lived to nurture and care for her children and grandchildren, even in ways that were hard for them to see the value in at the time. She was never one to focus on what she had as she was eager to give and then to give some more. Life will never be the same without Mariann here, but her timeless legacy will be carried on by all those who follow in her footsteps.

It seems only fitting that Marianns story began during a time that was as colorful as she was. It was the 1950s when Elvis was king, James Dean made young girls swoon on the silver screen, and blue jeans became part of our wardrobe. Televisions were appearing in more and more homes while shows like Father Knows Best defined the way we saw the American family. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1956 when Mariann Evelyn Revett was born on October 4, 1956, in Havelock, North Carolina. She was primarily raised in Wayendale, Indiana, within the big city of Ft. Wayne and was the daughter of Blanche Marie (Roy) Shatzer.

In many ways, Mariann was a young girl of her generation. She enjoyed spending time with her grandparents and helping in the large garden where they farmed many types of crops. Mariann and her siblings would also ride on the wagon as her grandpa would pull them with his tractor. Mariann attended local schools including Wayne High School where she was a majorette, twirling batons as they led the high school band.

After graduating from high school in 1975, Mariann married and had her first two children, Aaron and Nicole. To help support her children, she worked in various jobs, and in the 1980s, she worked as a dispatcher at the Noble County Hospital. This was a great fit for her as she had the biggest heart and a constant desire to help others. It was because of the fulfillment she found in caring for others that she decided to become an EMT. This proved to be so fateful since it was while she was taking a CPR class in 1988 that she found the man of her dreams. His name was Eldon Gene Hicks, and he was one of the people teaching her CPR class. He was a bit smitten with Mariann, and he was always nearby to help guide her in her CPR training. Soon, they began dating. Gene knew that she was the one when she cooked for him since her cooking skills were truly amazing as she was beautiful and loving.

With a desire to establish a life together, Mariann and Gene were married on April 28, 1990, at a Baptist church in Columbia City. She was an advanced EMT who helped out at the Noble and Whitley County Hospitals and also volunteered with the Larwill Fire Department along with Gene. Because Mariann had such a huge heart, she and Gene decided to start adopting children. Over the years their family grew to include Gena, Miriah, Kaylee, and Kira. Mariann was never concerned about a childs background as she was willing to welcome them with open arms no matter the circumstances. Before tragedy struck the family on December 23, 1997, when their one year old daughter, Kaylee, died. Because she worked while raising her first two children, Mariann fully appreciated being able to be a stay at home mom to her other children. They were able to travel to Disney World two times as a family with Gena, Miriah, and Kira. As her children got older and the family grew to include grandchildren, Mariann was thrilled, and her four grandchildren were her greatest source of pride and joy. She was always selflessly sacrificing to provide for her children, and she did whatever she could to give them the life they needed. Aaron and Nicole fondly remember when getting home from school, mom would sit down with them and watch Captain James Kirk with Star Trek.

All who knew Mariann would agree that she had her own creative flair. She loved gardening and tending to her flowers, and she was also an amazing cook who could come up with fantastic dishes with just a few ingredients all on her own. Mariann and all the family had a deep love of all animals. Often the Hicks Farm would include peacocks, cattle, donkeys, goats and pigs and at one time had over 50 pairs of birds. She also enjoyed horseback riding. Mariann was also a bargain shopper who was always on the lookout for a deal whether it was at her local Goodwill, online through eBay or Craigs List, or even at Wal-Mart. With Mariann, even a simple trip to Wal-Mart could be an adventure that went on for hours! No matter where she was, anything flashy would catch her eye. She also enjoyed getting away to the warmth of Florida whenever she could where she relaxed on beaches and found the water very peaceful place to send a day. As a young girl she also water skied.She and her friend Kim would two times a year make a get away trip to Las Vegas to shop and have fun.

The last 15 years of her life were challenging ones for Mariann. Just a few years after the loss of her daughter, she was diagnosed with Wegener's Disease, which slowed her down. While down in Florida relaxing on a vacation, Mariann became unexpectedly ill and was hospitalized. Gene was already on his way down to Florida, and he was able to be by her side until she drew her last breath.

With a smile that could brighten up even the darkest of days, Mariann Hicks was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was always available with a listening ear, and she also gave the best advice. Mariann could be a bit snarky at times, such as when she called her husband a butt, but her heart was as big as they come. She will be deeply missed while the memory remains a lasting treasure in the hearts and lives of all who were blessed to know and love her.

Mariann Evelyn (Revett) Hicks, of Columbia City, Indiana, died unexpectedly at 2:50 a.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2015, at Highland Regional Medical Center in Sebring, Florida. Marianns family includes her husband, Gene Hicks; children, Nicole (David) Taylor of Roanoke, Aaron (Angie) Hill of Fishers, Gena Hicks of Roanoke, Miriah Hicks of Columbia City, and Kira Hicks of Columbia City; mother, Marie Shatzer of Ft. Wayne; sisters, Melissa (Dan) Fogel of Ft. Wayne, Kirsten Revett of Ft. Wayne and Gretchen Revett of Wisconsin; and grandchildren, Sean, Bryce, Sydney and Abel. Mariann was preceded in death by her daughter, Kaylee Hicks in 1997 and dad, Robert Shatzer in 2014.

Visitation will be Friday, August 7, 2015, from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Rev. Mark Wagner officiating. Burial will follow at Union Township Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in her memory to Shriner's Hospitals For Children.