Barry Hicks

Barry Joseph Hicks passed away on August 16, 2016 in the Hope West Care Facility. He was 60 years old. Barry was born on February 21, 1956, in Pennsylvania. He was the only child born to Donald and Gwendolyn Hicks. As Barry grew up, he always had a love for aviation and a desire to fly. He received his pilot’s license while he was still in high school, later graduating from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Barry married Janelle Stover on August 19, 1977, in Greenfield, Indiana. Barry and Jan moved to Colorado in May of 1982, where they started their family and were blessed with two children; Roger and Kate. The two shared 37 wonderful years of marriage together. Barry took his love of Aviation and used it to begin his first business. The Avsource Group was founded on March 15, 1995. The Avsource Group employed numerous people whom Barry grew to cherish as very dear friends rather than employees. Every day for 21 years, Barry went to work doing exactly what he loved, which is something not many people can honestly say for themselves. He had a dream, he chased it and he conquered it. Barry’s aviation company took him to many different parts of the world such as; England, France, Italy, Brazil, Finland, Korea and Indonesia to name a few! He always enjoyed traveling and learning about new cultures. In addition to being a husband, father, business man and avid pilot; Barry was an incredible Philanthropist. He gave his time and financial help to an unnamable amount of organizations, his favorite being World Vision. Barry sponsored up to 110 children in other countries, helping them to attend school, and making sure they had the basic necessities their families would not have otherwise had. Not only did he give financially, Barry and Jan opened their home to many people throughout the years. They took in teens who came from bad families, or whom had addictions ect, and showed them love, family and most importantly, lead them to find Jesus Christ. Barry’s kind and generous heart impacted the lives and hearts of all who knew him. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for absolutely anyone, it didn’t matter if you were a close friend or a stranger, you were treated the same. On April 18th 2016, Barry married his best of friend of 16 years; Tami Vavak. They were wed in a private ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. Of all the places Barry traveled, Santa Barbara held a special place in his heart. He and Tami spent their free time there in his second home, where they made so many treasured memories. Though their time together was cut short, they made every minute count. The love they shared was the truest kind. Barry had many hobbies including travel, reading, sailing, and of course flying. But the most important thing to him was always family. Barry loved to have large family dinners and gatherings and he enjoyed his grandchildren more than anything else. He was the proud grandfather of 23 grandchildren, all of which adored him. To some he was “Wiggy” and to others he was “Pop-pop,” but to all he was special. Only one month into his marriage to Tami, tragedy struck and Barry was diagnosed with ALS. Though the disease escalated quickly, he never let it hold him back. Over the following months Barry continued to fly, seize every opportunity to be with his family and friends and continued in his business as if nothing was wrong. That was just his nature, he found the joy in everyday. Barry passed away on August 16th, 2016 in the Hope West Care Facility just 3 months after his diagnosis. He is survived by his Wife; Tami Hicks, Sons; Roger Hicks (Crystal Hicks,) Spencer Vavak (Alicia Vavak,) and Daughters; Kate Hicks, Kayla Vavak, & Tweetie Daniel (Drew Daniel,) and 23 Grandchildren. In addition to his "immediate family," Barry is survived by 3 other children he loved as his own; Kat Wolfe (Kyle Wolfe,) Cimarron Mendoza (Anya Mendoza) and Donald Mize (Heather Mize.) He is preceded in death by his parents; Donald and Gwendolyn Hicks, and his first wife; Janelle Hicks. A memorial for Barry will be held on September 10, 2016 at 2pm, at the Appleton Christian Church in Grand Junction, Colorado.