Funeral services for Mr. Allen Joe Hicks, age 51 of Carthage Texas, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Steven Hill officiating. Interment will follow in Old Prospect Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Mr. Hicks passed away on Sunday morning, October 26, 2008, in Tyler.

Allen Joe Hicks was born on April 27, 1957, in Dallas, Texas, the second son born to the marriage of A. J. and Jo Ann Johnson Hicks. He attended Carthage schools. He married Belinda Sheffer on July 3, 1982, in Marshall. In the late seventies and early eighties, Allen Joe worked for Carthage Muffler and Tire. In 1985, he established Allen Joe's Muffler and Wrecker Service. For the past twelve years, he and his wife have owned the Corner Café in Deadwood and also Allen Joe and Sons Portable Buildings. Mr. Hicks was a member and past president of the Sons of the American Legion. He loved the outdoors, camping, hunting, and fishing. He lived most of his life in the Carthage area, was of the Baptist faith, and was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church. Allen Joe was a hard worker who loved his family dearly. He fought a hard battle with cancer for nearly two years. He was preceded in death by his father; two brothers, David Ray Hicks and Robert Lee Hicks; and one uncle, Bobby Wayne Johnson.

Mr. Hicks is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Belinda Sue Hicks of Carthage; mother, Jo Ann Hicks of Carthage; two sons, Aaron Hicks and wife Bobbie of Carthage and Allen Joe Hicks, Jr. and wife Shannon of Chapel Hill; one daughter, Lisa Kay Brinkman and husband Chris of Carthage; two brothers, Thomas Dale Hicks and wife Rebecca Kaye and Mark Hicks and wife Jamie all of Carthage; four grandchildren, Shelby Chevelle Meshelle, Maranda Katelynn Meshelle, Emilee Grace Hicks, and Bailee Madison Hicks; and three step-grandchildren, Trevor Yaste, and Hunter and Austin Burney; one uncle Vernon Johnson of Dallas; mother-in-law, Vida Decker of Greenwood; four sisters-in-law, Sharon Gunstream of Shreveport, Vickie Carter of Marshall, Lisa Spraberry and husband Terry of Marshall, and Johnette Decker of Greenwood; and two special life long friends, Larry Joe Davis and Charles Whitley. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends also survive Mr. Hicks.

Serving as pallbearers are Richard Anderson, Sherman Spradley, James Boykin, Bobby Malone, Jimmy Cameron, Mike Morris, Michael Harrison and Dale LaGrone.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Larry Joe Davis, Charles Whitley, Bobby Taylor,John Wayne Thompson and Bobby Cheatwood.

If desired, memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 or Old Prospect Cemetery, c/o Mrs. Marie Ivy, 138 CR 4662, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.