Claudia Faye Hunt Hicks, age 82, of Shabbona, Illinois, passed away Friday, October 21, 2022 in Brownwood, Texas.
She was born June 1, 1940 in Great Falls, Montana, the daughter of Clyde and Alice (Johnson) Hunt. Claudia attended public schools in Great Falls and graduated high school in 1958. She attended the University of Montana at Missoula and majored in Biology. The summer between Claudia’s sophomore and junior year, Claudia decided to stay in Missoula to get a summer job at student health services and take classes. That summer, one of Claudia’s classes was square dancing. It was there that she first met Jim Hicks, who was out in Montana taking graduate classes. After a brief courtship, Jim proposed and they were married in November, 1960. After the Thanksgiving wedding, Claudia moved to Fillmore, Illinois where Jim was teaching. They moved to Shabbona in 1967 where they raised their family and became active in the community. James passed away November 30, 2020 during the height of Covid.
Claudia started working in education as a playground supervisor and then moved into a paraprofessional position within a special needs classroom at Shabbona Elementary School. She then became the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent for Waterman Community School District. She remained in the position until the consolidation of Shabbona and Waterman school districts into the newly formed Indian Creek School District. She transferred to Indian Creek High School as the Administrative Assistant at the high school. Claudia retired from Indian Creek School District.
Claudia served the Shabbona community in many important areas. She was involved in the Shabbona government for decades. She began her political career many years ago as the Shabbona Village Clerk, overseeing the financial records and payment of bills. She then became the mayor of Shabbona serving multiple terms retiring in 2017 to move to Arlington Heights to be closer to her daughter.
Claudia was a lifelong sewer and a great seamstress, and she found many wonderful friends through knitting and sewing. Some of Claudia’s longest friendships were with women who belonged to her Knitting Circle. After visiting her sister Karen who was an avid quilter, Claudia caught the quilting bug. Claudia, who loved color and fabric, could spend hours upstairs in her quilting room, and before she knew it, Jim would be home for dinner. She spent much of her retirement, quilting or going in search of the next great pattern.
Claudia and Jim were adventurous as they both enjoyed traveling. They used to go tent camping with their friends and children, and they often drove cross country, stopping at every military fort, to visit family in Great Falls and Albuquerque. Claudia and Jim cruised the Caribbean and Mexico, traveled to Europe to visit their foreign exchange student in Denmark, and snowmobiled with her sister in Yellowstone just to name a few of her favorite vacations.
She is survived by her sister Karen Hunt Crane of Albuquerque, NM, sons Eric Hicks (Kathy) of Brownwood, TX, Egan Hicks (fiancé Amy) of Princeton, IL and daughter Erin Marx of Arlington Heights, IL. She has eight grandchildren: Shelby, Cully, Morgan, Tristan, Zachery, Arraia, Maddie and Noah and five great grandchildren with two more by year’s end.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, James.
A celebration of life will be held at the Shabbona Community Church on November 12, 2022 starting at 11:00 until 1:00 with lunch to follow in honor of Claudia and James Hicks. If you would like to attend the luncheon, kindly RSVP by calling or texting (847) 778-8507.
In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial gift to the Hicks Family Scholarship which is managed by the DeKalb County Community Foundation. The scholarship awards up to $1,000 annually to a graduating senior of Indian Creek High School who seeks to enroll in a university pursuing a degree in education.
Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net