Pauline Leota Hickman

Pauline Leota Hickman passed away peacefully at 11:00 P.M. on October 13, 2022 in her Cassville home, one hour prior to her 102nd birthday.

Pauline was born in the Cassville area in 1920 to her parents Rev. Frank and Maude Hall, the only daughter amidst five brothers. She completed studies at the Oak Ridge Community School, ultimately graduating from Cassville High School class of 1940. 

Shortly after graduating from High School, Pauline married a local boy - Jack Keaton - who enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to the South Pacific theater during WW II. There, he contracted malaria and was shipped stateside to the Presidio military facility in San Francisco for rest, rehabilitation and light duty. Pauline joined him there for a few months and upon his honorable discharge, Jack and Pauline moved back to southwest Missouri. Soon thereafter, however, Jack Keaton succumbed to complete coronary failure. 

For the next few years, Pauline worked in the Barry County Courthouse until meeting and marrying Jack Hickman, a West Point graduate and U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.). After briefly residing in south Texas, Jack and Pauline Hickman moved back to Barry County, had a son named John Franklin (after John's paternal grandfather), bought some property in the Oak Ridge area, and began a small farming operation. 

After Pauline and Jack Hickman divorced, Pauline continued the farming operation by transitioning to beef cattle and resuming her career at the County Courthouse. She sold the farm property in the late 1970's and moved to town, retiring from the Courthouse as Deputy County Clerk in the mid-1980's. With retirement, Pauline received a commendation from the Missouri State Legislature, passed as a resolution sponsored by then-Senator, the Honorable Emory Melton. 

Pauline spent the next 30+ years gardening, traveling and volunteering at both the Cassville United Methodist Church and Cassville Senior Citizen Center. For the most recent two years, Pauline has been homebound due to a lingering illness. 

Pauline is survived by son John and multiple nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances. 

Thanks go out to the local church and community center for their love and support, with extra-special thanks to all of the home health-care people who added time and quality to Pauline's life. 

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at United Methodist Church in Cassville Pastor Jeff Fugitt will conduct the services. Burial will be at Ennis Cemetery in Cassville, Missouri. 

The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:30 P.M. Tuesday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. 

Visit www.fohnfuneralhome.com for online obituaries, guestbook and private condolences.