Bertha M. Barber-Hickles

Bertha Mae Barber-Hickles, 85, of Parsons, passed away at 6:50 p.m., Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. She was born June 8, 1933 in a location between Port Gibson/Alcorn in Claiborne County, Mississippi. She was the second of four children of Joseph Barber Jr. and Gertrude (Hargrove) Barber.

In late 1955, she moved from Port Gibson, Mississippi to Parsons, Kansas where she met her future soulmate, James T. Hickles. Together they were able to make Parsons their home until his untimely death in November 2001. Throughout the 63 years of living in Parsons, she provided the foundation, strength, and wisdom to raising seven children, five Hickles kids, and her previous two children born in Mississippi.

While living in Parsons she worked as a professional cook for several restaurants including the Townsman Motel, Joe's Café, The Parsonian, Ted's Club, and the Parsons Country Club. Her passion for cooking was demonstrated through her perfection of her famous chicken dinners desired throughout the entire city and nearby locations.

Even after a lifetime of working in this career, she still found the strength, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit to forge an independent run at being an owner instead of an employee. She was so proud to be able to open her place simply called Bertha's Place working to provide takeout dinners on the demand until retiring in 1999 to spend time with her grandchildren.

Surviving children having the opportunity to celebrate her presence, knowledge, and stories are Juanita Collins of Parsons, Robert Barber of El Dorado, Anita Gatewood (husband Charles) of Parsons, James Hickles (wife Kelly) of Davenport, Iowa, Ronnie Hickles (wife Renee) of Parsons, Debra Thomas of Parsons, and Steve Hickles of Overland Park, Kansas. She is also survived by a half-sister, Stephanie Shaw, of Parsons.

She was blessed to have been an integral part of the second and third generations of life. She provided guidance of life and offered lifespan stories shaping their views on how to handle this brave new world. She provided important life-learned lessons for those destined to follow.

She made it her mission to be available for the lives of eight grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren. Her unselfishness was extended to non-family members including Darius Golston, Larry, Michael (Mike-Bo) Johnson and Steve Jones.

She was preceded in death by her parents Gertrude Barber in 1941, Joseph Barber Jr. in 2002; her brothers, Joseph Barber III, James R. Barber, and Sidney Barber; sisters, Ida Barber, Marie Barber, Rosie Barber, and Janine Barber (stillborn); and her stillborn child, Kenneth Hickles, in 1974.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.  Friends may call at their convenience from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.