Coral Hicks

Coral Hicks
Pleasant Grove, Utah

Coral Varney Hicks, of Pleasant Grove, Utah, passed away quietly on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, after an extended illness at the home of her daughter in Glenwood. She was 90 years old.

Coral was born December 21, 1931, in American Fork, Utah to LaDrue “Hap” and Elva Smith Varney. She was raised in a loving home where she was encouraged to develop her talents and do well in school. She attended and was graduated from American Fork High School where she played the French horn in the marching band, was a star tennis player, and debated in state tournaments. After high school she attended Brigham Young University where she completed a year of studies.

She married Robert Mitchell Hicks of Pleasant Grove, on June 25, 1951, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were the parents of seven children, grandparents to 45 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren.  He preceded her in death.

Coral received a Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health from Brigham Young University in 1990 and a Masters degree in English and Creative Writing also from BYU. She was a certified midwife and natural family practitioner. Coral helped establish and run the English as a Second Language program in Pleasant Grove helping native Spanish speakers living in the community to learn English. She also served as an Election Officer for many years. Coral traveled extensively and her trip to Jerusalem was her favorite destination. She wrote and self-published a three-volume series containing a fictional account of the Book of Mormon prophet Mormon entitled “The Chief Captain.”

Coral was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many responsibilities, most recently as a worker in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. She and her husband, Robert, served a mission to the Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission. They served in the Miami area and then were assigned to the Bahamas where they spent most of their mission.

She is survived by her children: Beverly Sorensen, Cecelia (Thomas) Bytheway, Heather (Ruben) Gurule, Holly (Stephen) Dougherty, Riley (Tammie) Hicks, Heidi (Leno) Franco, and Jennifer (Marco) Araya; brother, David (Earlene) Varney.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 11:00 am, in the Garden 6th Ward, 905 N 500 W, Pleasant Grove, UT where friends may call from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery. Live streaming and online guestbook can be found at www.maglebymortuary.com under Coral’s obituary. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.

Streaming is LIVE only---watch during service time