Jean Evelyn (Graham) Hicks passed away on April 8th.

Jean was born on May 17, 1930, in Kendall, MI, one of 16 children (13 survived infancy) to Paul Graham and Hazel (Tiffany) Graham. At the age of 12, she went to live in the foster home provided by Frank and Pearl Cooley. In 1948 she married DuWayne Hicks and together they raised four children on the family farm in Trowbridge Township.

Once her children were out of the house, Jean went into food service, eventually retiring from the Allegan County Youth Home in 1998.

Jean devoted much of her life to Trowbridge Methodist Church. She organized monthly breakfasts and funeral luncheons, and for years cleaned the church (often single-handedly). She put on an annual Cancer Breakfast and participated in the Crop Walk for cancer.  With her friends from church, she made quilts for members of the church and non-profit organizations.

Her devotion to Church was only surpassed by her love of family. For 56 years she hosted the Graham family reunions as well as numerous Hicks and Cooley get togethers, neighborhood parties, after-caroling parties and New Years Eve.

No task was too small or too daunting, whether wiping a child's nose or painting a neighbor's house. If Jean saw a need, she filled it whenever possible, never seeking recognition, compensation or reward.

She was preceded in death by her husband, DuWayne; their youngest child, Brian Keith Hicks; daughter-in-law, Debbie Maloney Hicks; grandson, Tom Hicks; nearly all her brothers and sisters; and a foster brother, Bing Cooley, and sisters-in-laws, Barb Cooley and Wilma Cooley.

Jean is survived by one sister, Julia Miller of Paw Paw, and three children: Robert Hicks (Wasilla, AK), Maurice (Debbie Frost) Hicks (Allegan), and Doris Hicks (Allegan). There are six grandchildren, many great grandchildren, and a growing bunch of great, great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held April 28th at Trowbridge Community Church, 355 26th Street, Otsego. There will be a gathering at 10:30 am, with a service at 11:00. A luncheon at the church will follow. Please come to share a memory of Jean. For those who would rather write a tribute, volunteers will be available to read it for you.

Donations in Jean's memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation or Wings of Hope Hospice. Flowers should be sent to a neighbor or person in need, a tribute to Jean's giving nature.

Jean raised and cherished our children. She fed our community and maintained our church. She loved and cared for her friends and neighbors. She kept our families together. She was our rock, our anchor, our safe-haven.