Carol Gwendolynne Hicks

Carol Gwendolynne Hicks, 65, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in her sleep at home on Sunday, August 16, 2015. The world lost a beautiful, talented and caring person, and Heaven gained the greatest angel ever. We are comforted that her passing was blessed to be without pain, and surrounded by her family. Carol was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on September 19, 1949. As the first child and only daughter of Ken and Vera Mead, over the next four years she became the big sister to three younger brothers. As Carols father was in the Canadian Naval Air Force when Carol was young, the family moved frequently. After attending a total of 12 different schools, Carol graduated high school in Edmonton after which she successfully completed her nursing education at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and became a Registered Nurse. In September 1973, Carol met a vacationing American in Victoria, who swept her off her feet (literally, as they danced the night away); she was engaged to Ken Hicks on New Years Eve, 1973, and Carol and Ken were married at St Lukes Episcopal Memorial Church in Tacoma, Washington on June 29, 1974. Carol worked for 31 years as a Registered Nurse at the UWMC, for 13 years as the hospitals Occupational Health Nurse, and later as a Nurse Auditor in the Hospital Pharmacy. She obtained her Masters in Public Health from the UW School of Public Health in 1990 while working there, and was published in peer reviewed journals. Carol and Ken loved to travel the world, especially by cruising in more recent years. Carol and Ken celebrated her retirement in 2011 with a 15 day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands, and a 22 day cruise through the Mediterranean from Athens to Barcelona to celebrate the graduation of Melissa from the University of Washington in 2013. Carol was joyfully planning for her next cruise to her last day.Her particular joy in life was her children, Geoffrey and Melissa, and seeing them grow into the kind of adults that inherited her generous heart and bright, inquiring mind. And as a dedicated Husky, Carol was delighted in seeing both Geoffrey graduate from UW in 2009 (BS-Chem) and Melissa graduate in 2013 (BA-Biochem). Carol loved people, made friends wherever in the world she went, gave of herself with unconditional love, and her passing leaves a huge hole in the universe for all of those who knew and loved her. Carol, we are infinitely better people for having had you in our lives, but we will never be the same from this day forward. Until we see you in Gods good time. . . . we love and miss you!Carol is survived by her friend and loving husband of 41 years, Kenneth, devoted and loving children Geoffrey of Bonney Lake, WA and Melissa of Edmonds, WA, brother Michael Mead of Devon, Alberta, Canada and half-sister Valerie Sliming of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Carol was predeceased by her mother Vera Mead in 2007, father Kenneth Mead in 2012 brother Stephen in 2014, and brother Bruce in 1999.