|
Roger Lowell Hicks, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away June 15, 2021, after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia/Parkinson’s disease.
Roger was born May 11, 1947, to Lowell P. Hicks and Bernice Horsley Hicks, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended East High School and the University of Utah, and graduated from West Virginia University School of Dentistry. After practicing a year in Lompoc, CA, he and his family moved to Salt Lake City, beginning a forty year practice in the Millcreek area. His patients loved their visits to his office, and especially liked his “painless jiggly pizza juice” injections.
He married his high school sweetheart, Linda L. Morgan, in the Salt Lake Temple, on June 16, 1969. They welcomed 6 children into their family, and later 6 wonderful children-in law: Stefanie and Josh Bevans, Michael and Natalie (Bagley), Brian and Heidi (Russon), April and Jon Pratt, Melissa and Spencer Dent, and Kevin and Yuuka (Yamaguchi) Hicks. They are also blessed with 15 beautiful grandchildren and a grandson-in-law. Family has always been a priority for him, and time spent making memories with his family included camping, boating, hunting, fishing, making music together, being at the cabin, re-enacting at a mountain man rendezvous, or watching his favorite teams play.
As a teen, Roger began his musical journey, starting on flute, and later bassoon. At 14, he was the youngest person to be hired by the Utah Symphony, under Maurice Abravanel, and played with the Symphony until he went to dental school. He performed as a soloist for the “Salute to Youth” in 1965. Roger has played with several orchestras during his career, and 23 years as principal bassoonist with the Ballet West Orchestra. He has taught bassoon to many young people.
A man devoted to God and his fellow man, Roger has been a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life. He served a 2 year mission in the North Central States Mission (Minnesota and Manitoba), and later with his wife as Member/Leader Support missionaries in the Utah Orem Mission. He has served as a Bishop in the East Millcreek 17th Ward, the East Millcreek 4th Ward, and the BYU 110th Ward. He also served in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. Roger has loved the opportunity to teach, and especially enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts, where he had an impact on the lives of many young men.
Roger has cared deeply for people, and has been generous in kindness, appreciation, and love for others. His family and friends will miss his positivity, generosity, energy, and enthusiasm. Roger is preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Janet Morgan. He is survived by his children and grandchildren, his siblings Kay (Melvin) Ward, Jean Wright, Teresa (Steve) Ross, and Ron (Sherri) Hicks, and siblings-in-law.
His family wishes to express deep appreciation to his care-givers, Julie Parkin, Bristol Hospice, and the wonderful staff at The Ashford, and to Dr. John Greenlee, U of U Neuro Science Dept.
Services will be held on June 26, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Highland 36th Ward chapel, 11300 No. Highland Blvd., Highland, UT, with a visitation there prior to the service, from 9:00-10:00. There will be a visitation on Friday, June 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT.
A live link for his services can be found at https://youtu.be/7-txChSJ_Ds In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Donated Dental Services, https://give.classy.org/Dr-Hicks https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/deseretnews/name/roger-hicks-obituary?pid=199106700
|
Linda Welch (LeBrane)
Linda Welch LeBrane
Oh how we LOVED Roger in orchestra! He was SO WONDERFUL. I am so sad.
Ron Giles
I lost one of my lifelong friends in Roger's passing. I and my close friend Dan Dunford shared many hunting and fishing trips with Roger. He had a cool dad that had the time to take us on outings of all kinds. Roger's dad Lowell put up with us and created some wonderful memories. Like our trip to Yellowstone where we encountered many bears and other animals of various sizes in our campground. One bear destroyed our tent while we went on a day fishing excursion. We had access to their boat and really had fun fishing. Those trips with Roger and Lowell bonded our friendships forever.
It was only later in life that I found out that Rogers was a special person with tremendous talents and great intellect. You don't learn about that sorta thing when we went out tipping over garbage cans and raising a ruckus. Roger never let on about his greatness, but rather just went about his achievements with his buddies not knowing. We didn't even know about his fondness for the girl across the street from his house. A pretty girl named Linda, that we all took notice of when she moved into the neighborhood. He had/has good taste.
We have mourned the loss of many of our classmates, we're getting older and that happens, but for me, Rogers' passing hits real close to my heart. We've lost a great one.
Bonnie Jo Straley (Hooper)
Loved knowing Roger at East. Sending long distance hugs to his lovely family.
Vickie Christiansen (Morgan)
I, like Linda, enjoyed being with him in orchestra for three years. He was a gifted musician. When Randy and I went on our mission and spent time in the MTC, Roger and Linda were there at the same time. We were assigned to work with them a few times. We so enjoyed spending time with them and sharing some thoughts. He was so accomplished and always kind. His was a good life.
Steve Spencer
So sorry for this loss of a great classmate. From about 10 years old on, I lived in the same neighborhood (and LDS ward) as Roger. He and his Dad, Lowell were such talented musicians. We often heard Lowell's marimba performances, and he helped me and some of the neighborhood boys (including classmate Doug Richards!) learn how to sing in a quartet. Roger was always a standout bassoon player, and I enjoyed a couple of years in East's orchestra with him. Lots of good memories with Roger at activities and hanging out in the neighborhood. It was fun to catch up with him at the 50th reunion, and I feel so bad for the health challenges that took him from us all.
Steve Smith
I too will add my memories of Roger, as a member of the Band and Orchestra for two years but was never very good; however, I could hold my own because I learned to read music. My third and fourth Grade Thompson books helped and signing with my family was even better. I didn't practice much so I only went so far with the horn. Roger was a mentor and helped prop me up with was down on myself as a musician, he would give me encouragement which helped a lot. During my senior year (due to my working almost full time plus learning to fly in the evenings) I couldn’t be in Choir and Orchestra like many of you so I picked one that was easiest for me so I auditioned with Loraine Bowman and made it as a tenor.
I will always remember Roger and his positive attitude about life in general and his unique ability as a musician and mentor. Rest in peace my friend and maybe you have met my wife already, she had a better voice than me!
Raymond Brady
I also had the pleasure of performing alongside Roger for three years in the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra Winds. I was lucky enough to sit alongside him for two of those years in the Ensemble and was constantly amazed by his superb musicianship. He was also a really good guy, and there just aren't an awful lot of those hanging around.
I enjoyed catching up with him at the reunion and we began an intermittent email correspondence for a few years.
I remember the joy he took in the Heckel bassoon he was privileged to acquire. A good object well deserved for a good guy.