Val D. Hickman
How do you know Val? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Val D. Hickman of Silsbee, Texas. He passed peacefully in the company of his family on Monday, March 10, 2021.
Val was born on October 23, 1925, in Hortense, Texas and grew up in Polk County. He attended high school in Leggett and then immediately joined the military. He proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II and was selected for the V-12 program. He was also an American Legion member for many years.
Val was educated at Millsaps College in Mississippi as well as Tulane University in Louisiana. He was employed in the lumber industry in Southeast Texas, which inspired him to build a sawmill/kiln dryer in Village Mills which he operated for years until a fire disrupted the operation in 1957. Being wise beyond his education in many ways, he started another venture that proved to be the focal point of the rest of his career by entering the field of real estate, land development, and home construction business in Silsbee in 1958. Val constructed numerous quality homes and sold real estate for more than sixty years. He developed multiple subdivisions in the Hardin County area along with lake developments on Toledo Bend Lake, Lake Livingston, and Lake Chambers in Corsicana. He was past President of the Silsbee Optimist Club, Hardin County Real Estate Board, Silsbee Home Builders Association, and active in various other community affairs.
When Val was not working hard (which wasn't very often) some of the things he enjoyed most was water skiing, socializing and dancing, eating watermelon, clearing land with his bulldozer, spending time with family and friends, and sitting outside in his lawn chair reading the newspaper and listening to the birds singing and the whistle of the train as it passed by.
Val has left lasting impressions on many by making the most out of every single day with his exuberant energy, good natured demeanor, unfailing work ethic, his willingness to help others, his lively sense of humor and entertaining storytelling, his amazing ability to calculate complicated math figures without a calculator, and his kind and humble way of life.
Val showed determination and hard work and was successful in making his bucket list of dreams into reality. He was kind and generous and always greeted everyone with a warm smile, gentle hug, and a firm handshake along the way. He will be greatly missed.
Val is preceded in death by his parents, Nathaniel Hickman and Dovie Harrell Hickman of Leggett, Texas, and brothers, Rufus Hickman and his wife, Louise, of Leggett; Leroy Hickman and his wife, Jean, of Houston; Dempsey Hickman and his wife, Vivian, of Livingston; and Jimmie Hickman and his wife, Billie Jean, of Leggett.
Val had Texas roots, but it was a California girl he met in Texas who first stole his heart, and he is survived by their five children. Sons, Mitch Hickman and his wife, Lilly, of Snyder; Mark Hickman and his partner, John Reyes, of Houston; and Milan Hickman and his wife, Kay, of Silsbee; daughters, Valinda Hickman of Silsbee and Laurie Reid and her husband, Steve, of Houston; three grandchildren, Gemma and Fraser Reid of Scotland, UK and Liz Guo of Boston, MA and one great-grandchild, Casey Cruse of Scotland, UK. He is also survived by his sister, Doris Harris (late husband Phillip) of El Paso. Val also leaves behind friends and loved ones too numerous to list but not forgotten.
The Hickman family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the attentive caregiving received from Mrs. Luz Cordero, Mrs. Lois Jenkins, Mrs. Tina Young-Holman, Visiting Angels, and Hospice Plus. Their personal dedication is held dearly in our hearts.
A gathering of Mr. Hickman's family and friends will be 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m., Sunday, March 14, 2021, at Broussard's, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. His graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m., at R.S. Farmer Cemetery, Silsbee, under the direction of Broussard's.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking to please pay it forward and be kind to someone. Find the good, just as Val did every day in life. All acts of kindness will be appreciated in loving memory of Val's kindhearted generosity.
Please observe social distancing guidelines. By attending any public event you are acknowledging the risk of exposure to the Corona Virus. Please follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov
Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com.