Sue Ann Hicks

Sue Ann Hicks (nee Bernard) of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on October 31, 2024.

Sue Ann was born on June 27, 1937 to Clyde Guinn and Alice Jeanette Bernard in Pampa, Gray County, Texas. After graduating from Dumas High School in 1955, she became one of the most influential and pioneering figures in the field of nursing in the Texas Panhandle. Sue Ann was one of the first students to receive her Master of Science in Nursing at what was then called West Texas State University and one of the first nurses to administer the polio vaccine in the Panhandle. She was instrumental in the creation of the Licensed Vocational Nursing program at Amarillo College, which still thrives today, as well as being a nursing instructor at the college for almost two decades.But while still in high school, the brilliant-and-quiet editor of the yearbook met and fell in love with the cute-but-ornery track star, Adolphus Andrew Hicks the III (Big Andy) of Dumas. The two were married on September 8, 1956, and lived all over the Panhandle while raising their boys, Adolphus Andrew Hicks the IV (Little Andy) and Clyde Justice Hicks (Jud). After the boys grew up and out, they each married and provided long-awaited grandchildren, who adored their Nene. As the family grew, they spent many weekends together at the Hicks Ranch outside of Quail, Texas. Sue Ann infused their time with love and her famous biscuits and homemade plum jelly, which is technically the same as love. Weekends at the Ranch included curling up in one of Nene’s handmade quilts, swimming, fishing, and hunting. Once Sue Ann and Andy retired, they logged thousands of miles to support and cheer on their grandchildren as they performed and competed all over the Panhandle. Sue Ann is preceded in death by her beloved parents, Alice Jeanette Bernard and Clyde Guinn Bernard; her beloved husband, Andy Hicks; and her precious great-grandson, Harold James Leavitt. She is survived by so many people who love her dearly: her sons, Andy Hicks (Gwen), Jud (Michelle), her grandchildren, Erin Moon (Ben), Drew Hicks, Alyssa Dahl (Ole), Austin Hicks (Lizzie), Madison Leavitt (Ethan), Michael Whitmire (Karmin), and Matt Whitmire (Nikki), and her great-grandchildren, Aiden, Holland, Taylon, Marlo, Peyton, Harper, Cyrus, Braelee, Shawn, Zayden, Charlie, Amelia, and coming soon: Bentley. 

Services will be held at South Georgia Baptist Church in Amarillo on November 4th at 11 am. 

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to honor Sue Ann by contributing to one of the many scholarship funds that bear her name: The Hicks Family Scholarship at WTAMU (WTAMU, Box 60766, Canyon, Texas 79015), The Hicks Family Scholarship at Frank Phillips College (Attn: Laura Nelson, Institutional Advancement, Frank Phillips College, 1301 W Roosevelt, Borger, Texas 79007), or the Sue Ann Hicks Nursing Scholarship at Amarillo College (Amarillo College Foundation, PO Box 447, Amarillo, Texas 79178).