Phyllis Jean Hicks died Tuesday evening, June 25, 2013, on the eve of her 87th birthday, at the SE Georgia Hospital, Brunswick, Georgia, three days after suffering cardiac arrest at home. She was the devoted wife of William B. Hicks for 66 years, and the loving mother of her two children, Diane K. Hardin, of St. Simons Island, and Christopher J. Hicks, of New York, NY. Born June 26, 1926, in Dayton, Ohio, she was the youngest daughter of John and Helen Augsburger, and sister of the late Cora Schatzley. Known to family and friends as Phyl, she graduated from Fairmont High School, Dayton, Ohio, where she met her future husband in a school play. She attended Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, School of Fine Arts, for one year before proudly joining the war effort at Wright Patterson Air Field, while William Hicks served as a Lieutenant in the Navy. She worked in the photo reconnaissance department at WPAF and always recalled how much she enjoyed her job and co-workers. She and her husband married on April 26, 1947, at the Grace United Methodist Church, Dayton, Ohio, where Mr. Hicks, now a chemical engineer for the Monsanto Chemical Company, worked on the Dayton Project at Mound Laboratory, in development of the first plutonium bomb. Phyl became a mother on September 11, 1949, with the birth of her daughter, Diane, and again on May 29, 1951, with her son, Chris. In 1953, the family was transferred to Monsanto's corporate home base in St Louis, Missouri. With unlimited patience and cheerful enthusiasm, Phyl was the consumate home maker, in support of her husband's corporate career, and in total dedication to raising their two children. In 1966, when her husband was promoted to Monsanto's Director of Europe, Phyl managed the family's transfer to Brussels, Belgium, with her characteristic enthusiasm for an opportunity to learn -- a new language, new cultures and to make new friends, which she did easily. After their return to St Louis in 1969, Phyl was active in both a women's league of golfers and bowlers. She applied her superb home-cooking skills to a rotating schedule of dinner parties and holiday events with her husband's corporate associates, who became close friends. When her husband retired in 1985, they moved to St. Simons Island to play golf, near their dear friends, John and Ruth Laws. An inveterate reader, Phyl's intellectual curiosity extended well beyond her particular interest in history, politics, world events and, of course, baseball, whether her Cardinals, Braves or adopted Yankees. She also took great joy in watching 'her birds' at the feeder. With a positive view of life and a keen sense of humor, Phyl never indulged in self-pity, emotional outbursts or a harsh word. It was simply not in her nature. Absolutely selfless, her interest was always in the other person, and what she could do to help them. Those who knew and loved her are profoundly grieved by her sudden passing and will forever miss her. In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by two nieces, Jill Crane, Baltimore, MD, and Linda Jordan, Beaver Creek, OH, and two grandsons, Will Hardin, Austin, TX, and Riley Hicks, New York, NY. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 6, at 11 am, at Ogelthorpe Memorial Gardens, St. Simons Island. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the memory of Phyl Hicks to: St. Simons Library Summer Reading Program at, St. Simons Library, 530-A Beachview Drive, St. Simons Island, GA 31522