Donald "Don" Hicks

Don died peacefully and was reunited with his wife, Lee on September 19, 2014. Don was born in Willimantic, CT to Gladys Brown Hicks and George A. Hicks. He met Lenora Cunningham in Kingsville, Texas and they were married on May 21, 1944 while he was serving in the Navy. They lived in Chaplin for over 60 years and spent several winters after retirement near Lee's family in Texas. Don was a professional drummer starting at an early age and performed in Mattie Mattison's band as well as other bands in the tri state area and in navy bands including aboard the USS Antietam. He retired from the Mansfield State Training School. He had also worked for many years at the Hurley Grant hardware store on Main Street in Willimantic. Don was an avid UCONN Women's Basketball fan and he and Lee enjoyed many hours of watching the Lady Huskies play. He was predeceased his loving wife Lee, by his parents, his sister Roma Naumec, sister-in-law Claire Hicks, and brothers-in-law H.C. "Bud" Cunningham, James Lummus and Robert Woolsey. He is survived by his children, Donna Perez-Mera and her husband German, Jan Harris and her husband Melvin, Martin Hicks and his wife Susan and Gerry Hanrahan and her husband Patrick. He is also survived by his grandchildren Robert Hicks, Jennifer Hicks, Darrel Hanrahan and his wife Tara and Sean Hanrahan; and 2 great-grandchildren Preston and Haley Hanrahan. He is also survived by his brother Clifford Hicks, his sisters-in-law, Geraldine Lummus, Barbara Woolsey and Constance Cunningham; his brothers-in-law Harry Naumec, W.B. "Pete" Cunningham and his wife Rae, William Cunningham and his wife Joyce, Phillip Cunningham and his wife Jean, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at The Douglas Manor Skilled Nursing Facility in Windham for their excellent care and support of Don. Their personal attentiveness to Don's needs was exceptional. There will be a gathering of family and friends held at the Chaplin Senior Center on Saturday October 4th at 12:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to The Chaplin Senior Center at 132 Chaplin Street, Chaplin, CT 06235 or to a charity of the donor's choice. Please sign the on-line guest book at www.potterfuneralhome.com