Clarkie A. Hickman

Clarkie Anice Hickman survived several bouts with cancer, a serious work accident and a broken hip to live on to 96. Clarkie was born September 25,1920 to loving parents Monroe and Maud Boyd. She had 12 siblings - Naomi Kelly, William Boyd, James Boyd, Linda Poor, Turk Boyd, Mildred Olive, Barbara Poor, and Paul Boyd have died. Howard Boyd, Wanda Wade, Maudi Smart and Mary Anderson are still living. Also deceased is a daughter, Jo Anice Kinnamon and husband Elmer George Hickman. She is survived by her son, Dwayne and his wife Darlene; step son, Haskell Hickman; 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Elmer and Clarkie married May 17,1941 and lived on top of Black Fork Mountain near Heavener, Oklahoma in a tent for a month until a cow came and ate all their food. Clarkie's dad brought them down off the mountain, and they lived in a shed out back of her parents home, then in a little place by the railroad tracks. Young love endures! After their first child, Jo was born in 1942 they moved to Tulsa. Their son Dwayne was born in Tulsa in 1947. In 1957 the family moved to Bethany, Oklahoma because the business Clarkie and Elmer worked for, Parco Meter, moved. In Oklahoma City they became devoted members of Wesley Methodist Church in South Oklahoma City. In 1961 Clarkie had an accident on a stamping machine at Parco Meter and lost most of two fingers. After this accident there was a long and hard process to heal. In 1967 she began working at AT&T on Reno and Council where she worked for 20 years. There she made a long time special friend, Helen Nowicki, who has stood by her - visiting her often and taking her to AT&T Pioneer luncheons as Clarkie was able to attend. Then Clarkie and Elmer did a little traveling in their 5th wheel trailer before Elmer's health deteriorated and for 9 years Clarkie cared for him. After Elmer's death in 1999 Clarkie resumed her active life. She always loved being around people, and they loved being around her. She was special to all her friends and loved ones. One friend called her 'charming.’ Maybe some thought so much of her because she accepted people as they were even if she thought some people should make changes in their lives. In 2009 Clarkie sold her home of 52 years and moved to Baptist Village to a one bedroom apartment. She had a hard time giving up ‘stuff’, so her apartment was really full. As she was moving in someone in the complex said, “you won't get all that in there,” but she did. And she lived there 5 years and enjoyed her time there meeting many special friends. Her health declined so she had to go to Warr Acres Nursing Home until her death. She often thought while she was there that she was in another apartment. Every time she went home after an outing she would see the nursing home sign and say, "I don't live here." It would take some doing to make her realize, yes she lived there. One time when she was in the emergency room for care, one of the nurses asked her how old she was, and she said 80. The nurse told her it said on the chart she was 92 and Clarkie was so surprisedly and said, "Where did all the time go!" She really loved life on earth, but she is now eternally with loved ones and friends she longed to see while she was here.