Hedwig (Hedi) Ingeborg Spies Hicks
February 22, 1938- April 8, 2011
Hedi passed away Friday, April 8, 2011 at The College Station Medical Center, with her family by her side. A private memorial service will be held at a later date in Beaumont, Tx.
Hedi was born in Nurnberg, Germany to Alois and Auguste (Hoffmann) Spies. When she came to the United States in 1958, with her new military husband, Lional Isbell, and her nine month old daughter, Peggy Isbell Hardy, she spoke very little English. She learned a lot of her English reading billboards while traveling to Sweetwater, TN to meet her new in-laws. She then made a home in Fort Leonardwood, MS where she gave birth to Thomas M. Isbell, Shirley Isbell Prieto, and Richard M. Isbell. She loved being an American and was proud when she became an American citizen in 1963.
Mom loved to cook…boy could she cook… She was also a friend to all, especially the lonely. She often “adopted” kids and elderly people, making them smile with her cooking lessons and jokes.
Hedi married David Lee Hicks in 1981, and lived in Ft. Stockton, TX for several years, until they moved to Beaumont, TX in 1984. When Hurricane Rita hit Beaumont in 2005, they moved to College Station to be closer to family.
When David passed away in 2008, mom did not want to move. She wanted to be with her friends at Terrace Pines Senior Living Apartments. During the week, she was always at the clubhouse playing cards or bowling on the Wii. She loved winning bingo! The weekends were usually spent with one of her daughters, shopping, or spending time with her great-grandkids.
Hedi is survived by her children Peggy and Barry Hardy of College Station, Thom M. and Deborah Isbell of Pflugerville, Shirley and Guillermo Prieto of Austin, and Richard M. and Teresa Isbell of Denton, Grandchildren Tonya and Jimmy Locke, Jaime and Shannon Mccarver, Melissa Hardy Morgan and Mike Brackman, Jennifer Hardy Boyd and Nik, Sean Isbell, Ali Isbell and Danielle, great-grandchildren Hanna and McKenzy Mccarver, Brylee Morgan, Stephanie and Jeremy Brackman, Killian Locke. Surviving family members in Germany include her sisters, Irma, Marianne, Barbel, and Gerti, and their families, who still lament the day that she left them to go to the United States.
THIS BELOVED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, AUNT, SISTER AND FRIEND TO ALL WILL BE VERY MISSED.
