Aeron A. Hicks, age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, Kansas.
She was born September 29, 1949, in Pittsburg, Kansas, the daughter of Edward Slutter and Ruby Shelley Slutter. She grew up in Pittsburg and graduated from St. Mary’s-Colgan High School with the Class of 1967. Following high school, Aeron worked as the assistant director of medical records at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Pittsburg.
Aeron was united in marriage to Harold W. Hicks on August 29, 1978. After their marriage, Harold was a commissioned officer with the United States Navy and they were stationed in San Diego, California. During this time, Harold was stationed onboard the USS Ranger. Aeron served as the Social Chairperson for the ship’s Officers’ Wives Club. Some of her responsibilities included helping prepare the ship for Queen Elizabeth II’s royal visit and serving as the family liaison after a serious fire onboard the ship. While in California, Aeron took the opportunity to further her education and obtained her BA Deree in Psychology from the University of San Diego.
In 1992, Harold and Aeron moved to Harold’s hometown of Ft. Scott, Kansas to help care for his elderly father. While in Ft. Scott, Aeron worked with the Adult Education Program at the Ft. Scott Community College. She also served as the online education coordinator for the college. This was at the time when online learning was in its infancy.
Aeron had a desire to help others, and in addition to her work at the college she also played a key role with the Bourbon County Network for Families program. Aeron and Harold became active with the First Christian Church in Ft. Scott. They went on to become Commissioned Ministers through Education for Ministry. Together, they co-pastored the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Yates Center, Kansas from 2008-2018.
As her health failed and Covid set in, Aeron became more and more homebound. In spite of this, Aeron continued supporting Harold’s ministry at the Disciples Christian Church in Nevada, Missouri. During Covid, Aeron played a vital role in maintaining the church’s online presence. Throughout her life, Aeron did her best to serve God and humanity. The world was made a better place because of her endeavors.
Aeron is survived by her husband, Harold, of the home in Ft. Scott and her cousins, Brent Richey and Jan Brimm and husband, Jerry, all of Joplin, Missouri.
Rev. Laura Agee will conduct a service of remembrance at 10:30 A.M. Friday, September 27th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Music will be provided by Janie Aita.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery
Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Community College Endowment Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.