Larry Hickey

(From Parker Mortuary)

Lawrence (Larry) Hickey Jr., age 93 of Joplin, passed away at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

Born to Lawrence and Jennie Palmer Hickey in Coffeyville, KS on March 2, 1922, Larry was very proud of his parents and their accomplishments on a limited income. His father had polio at the age of two and had to learn to walk again. Larry enjoyed his schooling through the Coffeyville school system and was president of his senior class. In 1943, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Upon graduation he attended Midshipman School at Northwestern University's Chicago campus, graduating as a commissioned Ensign on December 22, 1943. He was assigned to a ship on anti-submarine patrol in the Atlantic and then to the APD 121 Herndon for the Pacific Campaign from 1944 until his discharge in 1946. He served in the last of the Philippine conflict including all of the Okinawa Campaign. His ship was then ordered to Manila, where an Admiral and staff came aboard to help plan the invasion of the Japanese Islands in November of 1945. It was there that he learned the Herndon was on a suicide mission to blow up a tunnel between the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. The Atom Bomb deployment saved his ship, many others and countless lives. Larry was privileged to meet six U.S. Presidents and personally thanked President Truman for saving his life.

One week after leaving the Navy, Larry began working for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, OK. There he met Marygene Underwood and they married in March of 1947. He was transferred with Phillips to the sales department in Kansas City and then to Aurora, MO for a district job in Southwest Missouri. He then moved back to Kansas City as Manager of sales, remaining there until 1955, when he moved to Joplin to purchase a distributorship of Phillips products. Marygene preceded him in death on May 1, 1962.

On December 9, 1962 Larry married Virginia Scruggs. She preceded him in death December 15, 2003. They had a wonderful life. His two daughters, Marla Hickey and Malarie Hickey Jaccaud also preceded him. Both were flawless marriages for Larry.

Survivors include a son-in-law, Steven Jaccaud; grandsons, Steven Jaccaud II and Tyler Jaccaud with his wife, Ginny; a granddaughter, Lawren Jaccaud Patterson with husband Mike; a stepson, William Scruggs, Ph.D. with wife Linda; grandson, Will Scruggs with wife Denée; granddaughters, Susan Scruggs Virgilio with husband Al, Sally Scruggs Buller with husband Jeremy; and 12 great-grandchildren in all.

Upon coming to Joplin in 1955, Larry was introduced to many people by his mentor, Bill B. Lee, a local banker and businessman. Bill was kind to introduce Larry to the Chamber of Commerce, churches and other affiliation including Rotary Club and Twin Hills Golf and Country Club, where he first played golf with Bill and others.

During this time, Larry operated Hickey Oil Co. and several other enterprises which included helping Channel 16's startup, later owned and operated Larry Hickey Distributing Co., a Budweiser wholesaler.

Larry's attraction to golf allowed him to play in 20 sanctioned PGA Pro-Am tournaments all over the United States, winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd out of the 20. His highlight was playing in the King Hassan II Pro-Am Golf Tournament in Rabat, Morocco, where he enjoyed entertainment provided by the King. Virginia also played in a single-day tournament in Rabat. They were invited back, but declined to allow someone else the opportunity. They enjoyed attending major golf tournaments including two Ryder Cups, one stateside and one overseas. In addition to Twin Hills, Larry was also a member of Southern Hills Country Club, Southern Seniors Golf Association, Missouri Seniors Golf Association and the World Seniors Association at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO.

While not a music major, Larry was also talented musically, playing some professionally under the auspices of Kansas City Conservatory of Music and with the French horn. He played in three Branson concerts while living in Aurora and while in Kansas City, became very active in music.

Larry was very fond of his home town of Coffeyville and of Joplin, his adopted home. He was thankful for the treatment he and his family received in Joplin. Larry was still in contact with seven of his friends who started first grade together in Coffeyville, with whom he had many reunions, two of which were hosted in his home with students, friends and spouses, numbering 150 each time.

Larry was proud of the three Jaccaud children and their accomplishments and was thankful to Steve for raising three children under unusual circumstances due to Malarie's early passing. All three graduated from K.U., some with advanced degrees. Lawren holds a degree in Architecture, Tyler holds a degree in History and two law degrees from University of Denver. Steve holds a degree in Business Administration. The grandchildren live in Denver and Los Angeles and are well established in their communities. Tyler is married with two children and his wife, Ginny, is also a lawyer. Lawren Patterson is married to Mike, also an Architect. Steve is happy in his job with Anheuser-Busch's Western Division. The three Scruggs children are also scholars, Will is an engineer from M.I.T. and wife, Denee' holds a pharmacy degree from UMKC, Susan and husband, Alex also hold degrees from M.I.T. with Alex holding a Ph.D. and MBA from Cal Berkeley and Michigan, respectively, and Sally graduated from MSSU and husband, Jeremy is an engineer from Ferris State. All six of Larry's grandchildren are very good at a variety of sports.

So very proud of his family and friends, Larry ended his daily prayer with "Thank you God for all my yesterdays, and thank you for my today, and if I have a tomorrow let me use it to help someone, In Jesus name, Amen". He obviously held his faith in God very dearly.

Mr. Hickey and his family give thanks to Mrs. Jerry Hayes, Mrs. Kelly Nelson and Mr. David Cross for the special care given to him in his home.

A special thanks, from Mr. Hickey and his family to Mrs. Karen Gilstrap for her many years of loving care and friendship to all of us.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Joplin with Dr. Dave Burgess officiating. Entombment with military honors will be at Mount Hope Cemetery under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to any of the following, First Presbyterian Church; Malarie Hickey Jaccaud Birthing Center at Freeman Hospital or Friends of Joplin High School Scholarship Fund at Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri.