Eldon Douglas Hicks, 99, of Sulphur, La. died peacefully Aug. 20, 2021, at his residence surrounded by his family.

Born July 2,1922 in Weir, Texas to Eldon Ottis Hicks and Lucy Ethel Trammell Hicks. He was the oldest of his siblings. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. A welder by trade, he traveled the countryside working for Mobil oil and others and eventually owned and operated Hicks Welding Services until his retirement.

In his early years he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and sharing his love of welding; but later became “Pop” and it was all about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which were the joy of his life. In his early years he was known to many as Mr. Hicks, “Hicks”, or Ed but loved by all. He never met a stranger. Those who didn’t know him thought he was a grizzly bear, but really just a giant teddy bear. He loved to travel around town visiting his friends on a daily basis, and in more recent years his grandkids and great-grandkids were the joy of his life, along with collecting cast iron pots even though he couldn’t boil water. He enjoyed being part of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry and a Shriner/ Habibi Temple of Lake Charles. He was also an honorary member of the Westlake, LA # 443 Lodge and a 50+ year member of Humble Cottage Lodge in Opelousas, La.

He is survived by his daughters, Vickie Peveto and husband Gary, Brenda Buford and Elaine Dickerson all of Sulphur; his sister, Mildred Hollis of Abilene, Texas; five grandchildren, Neil and Mandy, Jaime and Jared, Katie and Ric, Josh and Bre, and Brandon; great-grandchildren, Molly, Colston, Autumn, Rowdy, Devery, Nolan, Rice, Jack, Maria ,Madison, and Laikyn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He has preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Helen Hicks; sons-in-law, Terry Buford and Jerry Dickerson; 2 brothers, infant twin brother and Ralph Hicks; and sisters, Norma Begeman and Beatrice Rennick.

In honor of Mr. Hicks donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital 815 Market Street, Galveston, TX 77550 and Shriners Burns Hospital 711 Seventh Street, Galveston, TX 77550.

Masonic funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, at Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, at Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. Visitation will resume from 11 a.m. until time of service on Wednesday at Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. Burial will be at Mimosa Pines South Cemetery. Marcus Wade will officiate services.