HICKS A. SMTH, JR.

ADA-Services for Hicks Avery Smith, Jr., 86, Ada, are 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Ada, Dr. George Warren, Rev. Bob Langston and Dr. Roberto Escamilla will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. Full Military Honors will be conducted at the cemetery.
Mr. Smith died Monday, September 15, 2008 at his home. He was born June 22, 1922 in Ada, Oklahoma to Hicks Avery Smith, Sr., and Lenna Hardin Smith. He lived in this area most of his life. He attended Willard Grade School and graduated from Ada High School in 1940, where he served as the Junior Class and Senior Class President. He attended East Central State College, where he was the Freshman Class President and graduated in July 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His major was in accounting and his minor was in Biology. After his first semester at East Central in 1940, he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the personnel files section in Washington, D. C. He delivered files personally to Director J. Edgar Hoover. While in Washington, D. C., he attended night school at George Washington University.
He served in the U. S. Marine Corps as a Marine Pilot in B-25's and F4 U Corsair and helicopters during World War II, the Korean War, and the TAD Vietnam. He was stationed in the Soloman Islands during World War II and served in South Korea and assisted the United Nations in North Vietnam during 1954. He flew military aircraft with the "Passage to Freedom" Operation in Vietnam. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star and Air Medal with five Gold Stars. He was honorably discharged as a Captain.
Mr. Smith was associated with Hicks A. Smith, Sr. in Smith's Footwear between World War II and the Korean War. After his discharge, he completed his education at East Central State College. He served as Ada Postmaster for 26 years from March 3, 1961 to February 27, 1987.
He was a 75 year member of the First United Methodist Church in Ada. He was President of his Fellowship Sunday School Class twice, he had also served as President of the church Board of Directors. He was Past President of the East Central Alumni Association, Past President of the Ada Rotary Club, Past President of the Ada Kiwanis Club of Greater Ada, past member of the Ada Chamber of Commerce, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the AMVETS, he served on the Camp Fire Girls Board, and was a volunteer for the Valley View Regional Hospital Auxiliary. He was a member of the National Association of U. S. Postmasters, President of the Oklahoma Chapter in 1966. He served as a board member for the Pontotoc County Red Cross, was a member of the Ada Community Chest, Inc. where he served as fund drive chairman in 1966. He was the Civil Defense Planning and Operations Officer for Pontotoc County and City of Ada and was awarded the DeMolay Legion of Honor by the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay. He was also a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.

He married Inez Gaskins on April 14, 1944 in Greenville, North Carolina. She died August 11, 2006.
Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Sue Moore and husband Wesley, Allen, TX, Catherine Lynn Snow and husband Jerry, Ada, and Melissa Ann Massie and husband Darrel, Duncan; a son, Hicks A. Smith, III and wife Debbra, Ada; a sister, LaMoin Smith Bennett, Kerrville, TX; ten grandchildren, Angie Fischer, Houston, Chad Fischer and wife Teresa, Ardmore, Derek Moore and wife December, Napa Valley, CA, Trevor Snow, Houston, TX, Lindsay Snow, Ada, Joshua Butler, Duncan, Matthew Butler, Duncan, Chase Massie and wife Nan, Lawton, Mitchel Massie, Lawton, and Hicks Avery Smith, IV and wife Amy, Broken Arrow; seven great grandchildren, Brady Snow, Keller, TX, Caty Snow, Keller, TX, Cage Butler, Choctaw, Ashley Smith, Broken Arrow, Jordan Smith, Broken Arrow, Tyler Smith, Broken Arrow, Jack Moore, Napa Valley, CA, and Taylor Fischer, Quanah, TX; and three step great grandsons, Dylan, David and Aaron, Pittmon, Ardmore.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Lori Lee Smith, and a great grandson, Trevyn Snow, also preceded by his grandfather, Mancil A. Hardin, who served on Ada's first City Council.
Bearers will be his grandsons, Joshua Butler, Matthew Butler, Chad Fischer, Chase Massie, Mitchell Massie, Derek Moore, Hicks A. Smith IV, and Trevor Snow. Honorary bearers will be great grandchildren, Brady Snow, Tyler Smith, Cage Butler, and Jack Moore, and Jim Martin, Jim Kirby, Clint Sturdevant, Lloyd Briggs, Tom Boatwright, Ted Savage, Joe Parsons, and Larry Drennan, the members of the Fellowship Sunday School Class and his former Postal Employees.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to: First United Methodist Church Foundation; P.O. Box 566; Ada, Ok 74821.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada