James W. Hicks Jr.

James W. Hicks Jr., 92, of Manalapan, NJ passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Monday May 22, 2023. Simply ‘Pop’ to friends and family alike, Jim was born in Queens and lived in the Whitestone neighborhood before moving to the brand-new Poets Section of Manalapan in 1966.  Jim proudly served his country in the Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1951-1954 as a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Division.  He carried his pride in being a Marine throughout his life.  He was employed with Mitchell Associates as a Hospital Supply Coordinator working closely with countless people in the Hospital industry which he loved, retiring in 2003.

Jim raised his 9 children in his Manalapan home of 58 years teaching them the importance of family every day of his life.  Family and friends and people in general meant everything to Pop and those of us fortunate enough to have him close in our lives will carry his spirit and recall his smile forever.  Pop had a magical way of telling every one of his children and grandchildren that they were his favorite and somehow to each person, it felt entirely true.  To spouses of the Hicks family, there was no greater feeling than that of learning that Pop was building one of his famous wooden snowmen with your name on it for his front lawn at Christmas time.  Pure love.

Jim was a devout Catholic, strong in his faith. To know him was to know his favorite things after his family and friends were those NY Giants, the NY Yankees and hitting garage sales with his co-pilot and dear friend, Jennifer.  He enjoyed cheering on his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and loved bragging about all of them to anyone who would listen or just happened to be in his orbit at that moment.   Jim was never alone.  He lived his life surrounded by family and his face would light up every time you greeted him.  At large family gatherings, which were often, Pop would smile and talk the whole time.  He really loved life and lived it to the fullest on his own terms.  To know Pop, was to love him and to strive to be better because of his example.

Predeceased by his wife Margaret (Cunningham) Hicks, and his infant son Thomas Hicks. His parents, James W. Hicks Sr., and Kathryn (Mahony) Hicks, his brother Gerald Hicks and sister Joan (Hicks) Kelly.

Surviving are his nine children, James W. Hicks III and wife Noreen of Freehold, NJ, Susan LeGrand and husband Paul of Brunswick, GA, Ellen Cranmer and husband Craig of Beachwood, NJ, Daniel Hicks of Belmar, NJ, Michael Hicks and husband Michael Nohilly of Interlaken, NJ, Thomas Hicks and wife Erika of Woodstock, GA, Carol Burke and husband Patrick of Manalapan, NJ, Kevin Hicks and his companion Krista Hughes of Freehold, NJ, and Jaclyn Brogdon and husband Tygh of Saint Simons Island, GA. Also surviving are 21 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, Sister in-law’s Mary (Cunningham) Zatta of Bergholz, OH, and Virginia Cunningham of Sayville, NY. Along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

There will be a viewing for Jim on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, from 3pm-7pm at Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center St. Freehold, NJ 07728. On Wednesday, May 31st there will be a funeral mass at 11am at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church, 58 Main St, Englishtown, NJ 07726. There will be a burial on Thursday, June 1st at 1pm at Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Ave, Farmingdale, NY 11735. In lieu of flowers, donations made in James’ name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org would be greatly appreciated. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Mastapeter Memorial Home in Bayville. www.mastapetermemorialhome.com

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