Nina Louise (Hale) Hicks Hess, of Lebanon, formerly of Dixon and Jerome, was born on August 28, 1923, at Hancock, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a daughter of Samuel Harrison and Beulah Helen (Null) Hale, and departed this life at 8:47 p.m., on Sunday, February 1, 2015, at her residence in Lebanon. She had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 91 years, 5 Months, and 1 day.

Mrs. Hess was first united in marriage to Thomas Carll Hicks, Jr., and to this union, two daughters were born. Mr. Hicks preceded his wife in death. She was later united in marriage to Edwin "Ed" Hess, who also preceded his wife in death. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Bill Hale; and four sisters, Lelia Loghry, Lena Martin Long, Gladys Deardeuff, and June Reising.

Mrs. Hess had accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and had followed her Lord in baptism early in life. After moving back to Dixon in 1982, she had been a faithful attendee of the Sheppard Baptist Church, near Dixon, being of service in many areas of the church ministry. Mrs. Hess thoroughly enjoyed participating in the activities of the Dixon Senior Citizens Center and was a devoted volunteer worker there as well. Other activities she especially enjoyed were quilting, embroidering, living along the Gasconade River, fishing, and being with family and friends.

During her working life, Mrs. Hess had been an assembly line worker, for the most part, first at a munitions plant in Parsons, Kansas, and later at Hallmark in Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as being a devoted housewife and homemaker.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Hess include: Two daughters and one son-in-law, Diana Sicotte, Tempe, Arizona, and Linda and Jonathan Kell, Lebanon; three granddaughters, Brenda Doerr, Theresa Sicotte, and Debbie Guse; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three brothers, Ted Hale, Lebanon, and Robert Hale and Norman Hale, both of St. Louis; nephews; nieces; great-nephews; great-nieces; her very best friend, Leota Jones, Leavenworth, Kansas; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation for Mrs. Hess will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Friday, February 6, 2015, in the Sheppard Baptist Church (4 1/2 miles south of Dixon on Highway 28 and Cardinal Road). Visitation will continue from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 7, 2015, in the church prior to the funeral service.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hess will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 7, 2015, in the Sheppard Baptist Church, near Dixon, with Bro. Lonnie Reising of St. Charles officiating. Interment will follow in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family of Mrs. Hess to the Sheppard Baptist Church or to the Dixon Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the Sheppard Baptist Church or in care of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.

A reception will be held at the Dixon Senior Citizens Center, 301 Old Y Road, Dixon, following the committal service.