Herbert ‘Dean’ Hickey, age 94, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Family, friends, and loved ones whose lives Dean touched are invited to attend a celebration of life memorial service at Victory Life Church, Brownwood, TX on April 5, 2025, at 10 am in the sanctuary with Billy Murphey, Jr officiating. Private family gathering after services to scatter ashes.
Dean was born January 5, 1931, in a doctor’s office in Meade, Kansas to Joseph Edward and Ivey Marie (Enyart) Hickey. He was a 1948 graduate of Liberal High School in Liberal, Kansas.
Dean spent most of his days serving others, from the Kansas farm of his youth, to the Korean War from 1950-1953 as a Marine, to the Los Angeles Police Department from 1954- 1974 as a bike patrol police officer, to the various mechanic and repair shops and services he offered, to the menagerie of animals and rescues always eager for his affection, to the woodwork and crafts adorning people’s homes across the country, to supporting the growth of each new branch on his extended family tree.
Dean had 3 children Tanya, Joseph, and Patrick with his first wife Patricia ‘Pat’ Jean Patterson and later acquired 3 more children Cathy, Ruth Ann, and Marty with his second wife Linda Lou (Lippens) Hickey whom he married in 1986.
Dean is survived by his two sons Joseph Allen Hickey and James ‘Patrick’ Dean Hickey both of Brownwood, TX and his stepdaughter Cathy Tomlinson of Lexington, KY. He also has 5 living grandchildren; Breezy Long and husband Tim, Crystal Hickey and fiancé Sam, Christopher Hickey, Edward Patterson, and Bryan ‘Scotty’ Levensky; as well as 3 great grandchildren; Abigail, Aiden, and Karley and many nieces and nephews.
Among the survivors include some special friends/adopted family members that Dean met while serving in the Marine Corps League; adopted daughter Michelle Wilkins and fiancé Kevin, four adopted grandchildren Nicholas Wilkins, Maria Ables and husband Joe, Vincent Wilkins, and Mercedes Murphey and husband Travis to include 7 adopted great-grandchildren from them. Dean was also a member of the American Legion for some time.
Dean will be reuniting in heaven with the love of his life Linda Lou, the mother of his children Patricia Jean, his beloved daughter Tanya Valencia Hickey, his parents Joseph and Ivey, and all his siblings. Dean is the last Hickey of his generation to join them in eternity. We are so grateful to have had him with us for so long before God received him home.
Dean loved animals and would have appreciated that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to Corinne T. Smith Animal Center located at 3016 Milam Dr., Brownwood, TX or call (325)646-0617 or visit their website which has a donation link https://browncountyhumanes.wixsite.com/website