Sandra McPherson Hicks of Dallas went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, surrounded by loving family. Sandra is predeceased by her devoted husband John Walton Hicks Jr., mother, Gertrude Culkin McPherson, father, William Perry McPherson, beloved brother, Perry McPherson, nephew Eddie McPherson and her sister and brother-in-law Doris and Phil Redding. She is survived by her three children: John Hicks (Leigh Ann), Michael Hicks (Claudia Kuby), and Ruth Ann Hicks Elmore (Jae); nine grandchildren: Jennifer Hicks Lopez (Toby), Garrett Hicks (Millie), Steven Hicks (Sloane), Anna Hicks (Craig Bojda), Molly Hicks Quirk (Rob), George Hicks, Emily Elmore Chow (Kevin), Ben Elmore (Faith), and John Elmore; and thirteen precious great-grandchildren: Claire Quirk, Colin Bojda, Greer Bojda, Larkin Bojda, Oliver Chow, Fitz Elmore, Vivien Lopez, Elliott Hicks, Magnolia Elmore, Evelyn Chow, Locke Hicks, Caroline Lopez and Marin Lopez. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Kappa big sister and Matron of Honor, Ann Nolte McPherson, as well as her nieces and nephews, Lynn McPherson Bucknall (Chris), Ann Redding McManus (Mike) and Phillip Redding (Kim) along with their children and grandchildren. They will all miss her dearly.

Sandra was born on September 5, 1934, in Denver, Colorado, but soon moved to Dallas where she grew up in University Park. She was a proud member of the December 1951 graduating class of Highland Park High School. She loved her lifelong "Kindergarten friends" affectionately known as "The Girls." While in high school they climbed the University Park water tower, went skinny dipping, and were brought home to their parents in the middle of the night by the police, wet and triumphant. Sandra then attended Southern Methodist University where she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma, graduating in December 1955 with a degree in both economics and psychology.

She met the love of her life, John Hicks, at a mutual friend's wedding. They were married on December 23, 1955, at Highland Park Presbyterian Church and in record time had three children. Sandra's desire in life was to be wife to John and mother to her children, both of which she excelled. Mom always said that the best thing a mother can do for her children is to love their father, and Sandra loved John.

Sandra was a member of the Dallas Lawyer's Wives Club, the Junior Charity League, co-founded the Gourmet Book Club, and was a certified Texas Master Gardener. She also was the Recruitment Coordinator at the Career Center at SMU for many years and was a proctor at the Texas GED Testing Center. Never one to sit back and relax, Sandra soared in a glider, parasailed in Mexico, backpacked in the San Juan mountains, and studied wildflowers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Institute in Gothic, Colorado. Her biggest regret is to have never bungee jumped.

In 2001, Sandra and John retired and moved to Hideaway, Texas where they made a host of new friends. She was known for her beautiful azaleas, backyard greenhouse, killer Mahjong skills, and her annual Pumpkin Party. In 2017, they moved back to Dallas to be closer to family.

She and John were well traveled. They drove all over Spain not knowing a word of Spanish, explored family roots in Switzerland, went deep sea fishing in Costa Rica, experienced Yosemite and Yellowstone, antiqued in England, as well as traveling throughout the United States, camping in Colorado, fly fishing in Alaska, hunting in West Texas, collecting Native American art in New Mexico, playing "the boats" in Shreveport and more. Most of all, she loved spending summers in Colorado with John, her children and grandchildren, and we all will forever cherish the memories of time spent there. The outdoors was her favorite place to be, "God's country!"

It was not a coincidence that Sandra passed away on Cinco de Mayo. Besides her great love for her family and friends, there was her love of margaritas and cheese enchiladas. She knew that they would be a little bit better in heaven and wanted to enjoy them with John and all their dogs.

Big hugs and sincere thanks to Ben Migriño, Bonita Spence, Mia Mitchell and Eboni Gonzalez for the special care and love they gave to our Mom, Grandmaw, and GGmaw. She is now fully "fine as wine in the summertime."

There will be a celebration of her life on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Highland Park Presbyterian Church with her friend the Rev. Clay Allard officiating. Instead of the usual remembrances, please donate to a cause near and dear to Mom's heart, gardening, at the North Texas School Garden Network at https://ntxschoolgardennetwork.org/.