Mary Frances Hicks

December 23, 1911 - June 4, 2016

Mary Frances Hicks, age 104 years, a former resident of Helvetia and a resident of the Elkins Rehabilitation and Care Center, passed away Saturday morning, June 4, 2016 at the Center. She was born December 23, 1911 at Helvetia, a daughter of the late James Peter and Anna Marie Merkli McNeal. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family having also been preceded in death by three sisters, Bernadine Law, Agnes Prysock and Irene Hartford and two brothers, James and Wibur McNeal. Mary was a homemaker and a member of the Helvetia Fair Association, Helvetia Farm Women, Board of Directors for the Little Meadow Clinic and supporter of the 4-H. She enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a former member of the Beech Mountain Hunting Club for many years. Mary was a wool spinner, seamstress and created the first Folk Dancer costumes for the Helvetia Folk Dancers. She attended the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Pickens. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Pickens. Fr. Joe McLaughlin will be the celebrant and interment will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery near Pickens. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Mary Frances Hicks. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.