Letha Hicks

Letha Jane Hicks, age 93, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2020, at Sparrow Health Systems, Lansing, MI.

A Private Graveside Service for Letha and her husband Ellis will be held at Lowe Cemetery, St. Johns, MI.

Letha was born in Alma, MI on July 27, 1926, the daughter of Chester and Eunice (Kilpatrick) Fillhard. On February 17, 1946, Letha married Ellis Laverne Hicks in a ceremony in her parents' backyard in Alma, MI. Together Letha and Ellis built a home in Alma, where they raised four daughters. They were blessed with 74 years of marriage prior to Ellis' passing on February 26, 2020.

Letha was a sweet, selfless person who put others before herself. She was a skilled seamstress; making clothes for herself, altering clothes for her girls, and creating doll clothes and a wedding dress for her granddaughters. Her quilts were beautiful gifts for many. Letha loved cooking great meals for her family and playing bingo with her friends. Letha enjoyed hunting and fishing with her husband Ellis and complimented his gardening with her freezing and canning skills. She worked many places including: Swifts Poultry Processing Center, Alma; Redman Trailor Factory, Alma; and Wolverine Worldwide Shoe factory, Ithaca.

She is survived by 4 daughters: Cheryl (Jim) Naffziger of Mecosta, MI; Jennifer French of Kingman, AZ; Krystal (John) Chapman of Page, AZ; Katrinka Fetzner of St. Johns, MI; and her brother Laverne (Janet) Fillhard of Alma, MI. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Jodie (Aaron) Ballow, Alan Fetters, Carrie (Phil) Ramirez, and Matthew (Crystal) Fetzner; 6 great-grandchildren: Zachary Ballow, Oscar Ramirez, Isaiah Ramirez, Mia Ramirez, Riley Fetzner, Keira Fetzner and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ellis, sisters: Leona and Leila, brothers: Lester, Lyle, and Lyndon, 2 sons-in-law: John Fetzner and Jim Ellery, and infant great-grandson Rafe Ramirez.

Letha's family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Hazel Findlay for the exceptional care she received in the years she resided there.

Memorials may be made to a Charity of the Donor's Choice. Online condolences can be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.