Harry Roger Hicks

Harry Roger Hicks, 83, passed away peacefully at home on August 23, 2026, after a life filled with faith, service, hard work, and love of family. Roger was born on May 9, 1943, in Madison, West Virginia, to a coal miner, egg farmer, and serial entrepreneur Nello Murray ‘Pop’ Hicks and best cook in the state, pool shark, and homemaker Mabel ‘Nennie’ Hicks. He grew up in the hollers just outside of Charleston, WV working on and racing cars, running the hills, and doing his best to stay out of trouble, but usually failing.

He met the love of his life, Helen Sue Scott, at 13 and sealed the deal with a stick of BlackJack chewing gum. Seventy years later, he was just as devoted and smitten. They were married in 1965, and a little over a year later loaded their first-ever brand new car, a 1966 Ford Fairlane, with their newborn daughter (sans car seat) and moved to Florida in 1967. They ended up in Vero Beach after approximately 750 miles of 3 speed manual and no air conditioning. Roger landed a job at Piper. They found a perfect house for the small family in the highlands with citrus trees in the backyard and settled in.

Two years later they added a son and Roger, along with his dad, embarked on his dream job, a Philips 66 service station on US1 and Route 60. The business flourished and became much more than a place to get your tires checked and oil changed. It was a 5:30am coffee shop for friends and customers on their way to work. A place of community to celebrate, commiserate, and fix all the world’s problems over a cup of usually very black, inexpensive coffee. The customers quickly became lifelong friends.

In 1970, he and his wife helped found the Vero Beach First Church of the Nazarene. A few years later, he helped build the first dedicated sanctuary and offices for the church. He may have been a mechanic, but the walls he nailed into place are still there and being used to this day. In 1975, Roger and Sue welcomed their second son as an early Christmas present. Though he worked from sunup to sundown, he always found time to play catch, coach a team, volunteer with the high school band, or make you laugh with his sarcasm and wit.

The seventies brought new adventures and a love of travel. Whether it was to Pike’s Peak in a pickup truck, with a topper and too many bodies to be legal in today’s world, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina every summer to keep up with traditions, or parking tickets in DC he was always ready for whatever Sue planned.

Pickup trucks gave way to motorhomes and with the patience of Job and engineering/fixit skills that would make Macgyver jealous, he took his family to 48 states across countless miles on road. Unfortunately, he couldn’t drive to number 49 and had to fly to Hawaii. He and his wife made it to number 50 with a different family and left Alaska for their kids to visit on their own; which they all did. As the kids got older, he was able to talk his wife into getting a motorcycle, which had been forbidden for years. The most commonly heard quote from this time period was, “She’ll never get on that thing!” Well, she did, and they rode thousands of miles together, the same way the did everything. Sturgis, South Dakota was his favorite destination and place to ride.

He became a grandfather in 1993 and earned the well-deserved moniker ‘Pop’ that had become his dad’s name, thanks to grandkids as well. Pop was devoted to his grandchildren like no other and always found time to show them how an engine worked, watch Looney Tunes, go for a walk, or insist that they needed, not wanted, McDonald’s every time he picked them up from school. His kids were shocked at the level of spoiling compared to their own childhood. He was ready every Saturday night to order pizza for one, while making sure to have peppermints and life savers in his pockets for them at church on Sunday.

Travelling took on new life in ‘retirement’ as he and his wife visited more than 170 Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives across the nation and reported back on each’s rating. The trips lasted only as long as they could stand to be away from the grandkids and got shorter and shorter as time went on. He took his bride to more landmarks and historic scenery than the illustrator of Cars could imagine. From the coasts of Maine to the Lincoln Highway, to Route 66, and every interesting looking quilt store or flea market Sue could find in between. Though he stopped working on cars, he would remain a fixture at the station talking to old customers, making new friends, and remembering the good ‘ol days.

He never waned in his devotion to God, his wife, and family. In that order. His was a well lived life full of hard work, laughter, sarcasm, and love. His service has ended and there is no doubt he has received his “Well done.”

He is survived by his wife of 61 years and soulmate of 70, Helen Sue (Scott) Hicks; his children, Kelly Sue Karman (Tim), Roger Scott Hicks (Erica), and Christopher Allen Hicks (Angela); four grandchildren, Joshua Karman, Jackson Murray Hicks, Emily Grace Hicks, and Bryce Rech; and great granddaughter, Harper Marie Karman; his brother and best friend Thomas ‘Tommy’ Leslie Hicks (Barbara Jo Scott Hicks); many extended family, and more friends and ‘adopted’ children than can be counted.

The family is having a memorial service at 6:00 p.m. on September 5, 2026 at Vero Beach First Nazarene Church, that he helped found, located at 1280 27^th Ave, Vero Beach FL 32960. You are welcome to come and join in fellowship as early as 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the VNA Music Therapy program, VNA & Hospice Foundation, 920 37^th Place, #101, Vero Beach, FL 32960, which gave him so much joy in the last months of his life.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.