Gary Dee Hickox

Graveside services for Gary Dee Hickox, 89, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Oak Lawn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Mr. Hickox, was passed away at 5:41 a.m., Thursday, October 9, 2025, at his home.

He was born on May 13, 1936 on the family farm outside of Centropolis, Kansas, to William Hickox and Esther Anderson Hickox.  On September 7, 1954 he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Betty Jean Patterson. He graduated from West Plains High School in 1954 and joined the United States Navy immediately after. Upon completing boot camp, he reported for submarine school and continued a career in the Navy for the next 22 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia and later went on to receive his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. He retired from the Navy at the rank of Lieutenant Commander in January of 1978.  After his retirement from the Navy, he moved back to West Plains working as the Emergency Preparedness Director and also as the head of the Chamber of Commerce. He and Betty also traveled the Midwest, selling their creations at craft shows.  He enjoyed fishing, working on his tractor and going to auctions, but his greatest love was for his family. He was a devoted husband, father, poppy, and uncle.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of the family home;  three children, David Hickox and wife, Debbie, of Broomfield, Colorado, Karen Garnett of West Plains,  and Linda Schartz and husband, Stacey of West Plains; six grandchildren, Mark Hickox and wife, Lisa of Broomfield, Colorado, Matt Garnett of Boulder, Colorado, Jon Garnett of Corinth, Texas, Andrea Battreal and husband, Caleb of West Plains, Samantha Fox and husband, Zach of West Plains and Joe Schartz of Kansas City, Missouri;  five great-grandchildren who were among his greatest joys. Henry and Charlotte Battreal, Emmett, Cash, and Maddox Fox all of West Plains; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

His parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Pat and Frieda Patterson, and two brothers and their wives, Max and Zelina Hickox and Rex and Martha Hickox, preceded him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, West Plains Chapter or Arbor Day Foundation and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, Missouri.