Karen B. Hicks

Karen Bellis Hicks, age 56, of Huntingtown, MD, passed away May 10, 2011 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD after a 4 year long courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. The youngest of four children, Karen was born January 24, 1955 in Harrisburg, PA to Charles D. Bellis and Ella M. (Barry) Bellis. She was raised in Harrisburg, PA until the age of 10 when her father was transferred to the Orlando Naval Supply Depot as an electronic technician. The highlight of Karen's life was when she met Richard "Rick" Hicks in 1973. They were married on June 2, 1974 in Winter Park, FL and lived in the Orlando area until 1999. Exploring new career paths led them to the Washington, DC area where Rick began working for the federal government and Karen went back to school. She then began a career in the health care industry as a radiology technologist, dedicating her life to helping and caring for others. She was the proud mother and grandmother of three children and one grandchild. She was a member at Emmanuel Baptist Church and enjoyed reading, writing and listening to music. In her leisure time, she enjoyed traveling, visiting lighthouses and walking on the beach. Karen unconditionally loved her family and never met a friend she didn't keep. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles D. Bellis in 1990. She is survived by her mother, Ella Bellis of Winter Park, FL, her loving and devoted husband, Rick Hicks of Huntingtown, MD, daughter Jennifer Hicks Spears and her husband Stephen of Deltona, FL, daughter Rebekah M. Hicks of Huntingtown, MD, son Richard M. Hicks and his wife Stephanie of Naperville, IL, sister Linda Zerbe of Hickory Corners, PA, sister Judy Ryder of Winter Park, FL and brother David Bellis of Clinton, TN. She is also survived by one granddaughter, Emma Leigh Hicks of Huntingtown, MD. A memorial service and celebration of Karen's life will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Huntingtown, MD.