Obit of Hickerson, Rilla Mae - Kiowa County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Shelly Lynch 10 Jun 2007 Return to Kiowa County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/kiowa/kiowa.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Alderwood-Heath Funeral Home--?? HICKERSON -- Rilla Mae (nee Cowan), was born November 19, 1914, to Dorothy and Ansel Cowan on a farm outside Snyder, OK and passed away after a brief illness Thursday, March 29, 2007 in Tulsa. She was 92. Rilla began her education at Grandview, a small 1 room school house near Snyder. She later attended Cameron Junior College and Oklahoma A&M. Rilla married Alva James Hickerson on September 2, 1935. After graduation, they moved to Tulsa, where Alva had employment with the Corps of Engineers and Southwestern Power Administration. Rilla managed their home and 3 sons. During the 1960's, Rilla was involved in the Tulsa Anglers Club and spent many hours at Braden Park near her home teaching young people to cast. Rilla helped and directed the many tournaments held by the club and organized the annual fish fry fundraisers for the club. Rilla and Alva treasured their times fishing and camping on the Illinois river. After retirement, they expanded their enjoyment by spending the winters in the Florida Keys fishing, collecting shells and meeting new friends. Rilla will be remembered for her iris garden and her active involvement in the American Iris Society and Tulsa Area Iris Society, of which she was a charter member. Every Spring brought a burst of beauty to the carefully tended beds of irises. Rilla and Alva raised many varieties of iris and hybridized their own, named varieties. Rilla won many honors at the local iris shows, became a judge and participated in iris shows in other cities as well as Tulsa. Rilla leaves behind many lifelong friends she made while a member of the iris organizations. Rilla was preceded in death by: her husband, Alva James; and a brother, David of Verden, OK. Rilla is survived by: a brother, Ansel Cowan, Jr. of Enid, OK; a sister, Peggy Bridwell of Tulsa and their children. She is also survived by: her 3 sons, Terry (Benton, KY), Walter (Tulsa) and Steve (Dallas, TX). She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, TW Hickerson of Coweta, Bryan Hickerson of Terlton, Allison Hickerson of New York City, Tracy Hickerson of Stillwater and Micheal Hickerson of Lexington, KY. Rilla was also blessed with 5 great-grandchildren, Brandi, Brittany, Blake, Agatha and Ginger. A Memorial service for Rilla Hickerson will be held at Alderwood-Heath Funeral Home at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 31. In lieu of flowers the family asks that remembrances be made to Tulsa Area Iris Society Published in the Tulsa World on 3/31/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Kiowa County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/kiowa/kiowa.html