Bailey Hickson

Bailey Dane Hickson, affectionately known by his brothers as Boss Man, went to be with his Lord and Savior, at his home near Terlton on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at the age of seventy-four. Bailey was born on May 31, 1934 in Terlton, Oklahoma. He was one of eight children of Jesse Don ìJ. D.ì and Lucille Elvira (Jenkins) Hickson. Bailey was raised and attended school in Terlton, graduating from Terlton High School in 1952. Shortly after graduating from high school, Bailey accepted a position with the Fibercast Company in Sand Springs assisting in the production of fiberglass reinforced composite piping. After a short time, Bailey began a long career in the wireline and oilfield servicing business; providing personal field experience in the areas of quality logging and log analysis by utilizing resistivity and porosity logging equipment to help local oil producers with the challenging task of receiving excellent well analysis while maintaining proprietary information between clients. Bailey initially accepted employment with Lane-Wells in Perry and that is where he met the love of his life, Patsy Ruth Southern. The couple was later married on January 2, 1954 in Blackburn, Oklahoma. Pat, known as Granny to her family and Bailey made their initial home in Perry, raising two children, Shari LeAnn and Michael Dane, Bailey was employed by Lane-Wells for nearly eighteen years before accepting employment for a short time as a NAPA autoparts specialist in Perry. In 1974, the couple moved to Cleveland and established their home when Bailey established his own company in Hominy, Petro-Data Inc, providing complete wireline servicing in northeastern Oklahoma. He later partnered with API Wireline, moving their company headquarters from Hominy to Wynona. With his extensive knowledge of the oilfield business, Bailey later served as an oilfield supply sales person for several years before beginning a new career in 1994 in the fresh produce business working with his son Michael at Frontier Produce in Tulsa. During the 1980ís, Bailey and Pat also owned and operated the Golden Acres Horse Ranch near Terlton, raising quality thoroughbred racing horses. Bailey was described by his family as a genuine, caring and loving father, grandfather and brother who would give his shirt off his back to anyone in need. It was often said that his heart was much bigger than his pocketbook. He truly loved his family and always started the week off on Sunday morning with biscuits and gravy with his brothers; a tradition started with his mother, Lucille and then carried on at the home of his brother Bill, provided by Billís wife, Cathy. Bailey was known throughout the community as a friend to all and a stranger to no one; providing big bear hugs to everyone he knew. He enjoyed cattle ranching with his brothers; which is how he got his nickname Boss Man and had a favorite cow that he milked named Rosie. He had a pet donkey, a llama and loved his dog, Chewy, who Bailey said was always ready for the attack. It seemed he loved all of Godís creatures except for cats. Bailey was famous for making stew and loved to have the family over for cookouts where he enjoyed charcoaling hamburgers. Bailey was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Terlton and loved his church family; and especially enjoyed church dinners. He was also a member of the Terlton Cemetery Board. In addition to his love for his family and church family, Bailey had many special and close friends. He had a special relationship and was extremely proud of his grandchildren, Stephanie, Jeremiah and Taryn and described himself as being blessed with the addition of Alexys and Anna, his great-granddaughters to his family. His relationship with them often led him to jokingly say, ìleave me alone, go play in the street.î Also, Bailey seemed to have another favorite saying for them, ìYou got freckles on you, ___ but your pretty.î Bailey was always concerned about where they were going to eat and always ate before the brothers fed the cows. Bailey was preceded by in death by his parents; his wife of fifty-three years, Pat; his son Michael Dane Hickson; and three brothers, Jesse Don, Roy Dennis and Roger Ditto Hickson. He is survived by his daughter, Shari DeWitt of Cleveland; granddaughter and her husband, Stephanie and Robert Bradley of Cleveland; grandson and his wife, Jeremiah and Sara Spurlock of Norman; granddaughter, Taryn DeWitt of Tulsa; and two great-granddaughters, Alexys Bradley of Cleveland and Anna Spurlock of Norman; four brothers and their spouses, Robert and Ann Hickson of Mannford, Bill and Cathy Hickson of Terlton, Dan and Kaye Hickson of Terlton, and Ray and Sandy Hickson of Terlton; numerous other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing. Services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, January 9, 2009 at the Terlton Baptist Church with Rev. Dale Gowdy and Rev. Scott Watkins officiating. Musical selections will be provided by Willa Gowdy. Serving as pallbearers will be Roger Price, Monty Johnson, Andy Martin, Brent Hedrick, Mike Jones and Wayne Holloway. Burial will be at the Terlton Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. ìIíLL BE LOOKING AT YOU TOMMOROW.î