Davis Asberry Hickey

​(Printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', Dec. 22, 2011)

​​Davis Asberry Hickey was born in eastern Miller County on 4 May 1875. He was a son of Granville B. and Elmina Hickey. Granville was a minister of the gospel and performed several marriages in his vicinity.

In 1878, Davis married Cora Arizona Shelton, a daughter of Allen Taylor Shelton and Rachel McKee. Cora was born in Miller County 8 April 1879. She was one of three children of the Sheltons, but an infant son died early. Her parents reared Cora and her sister, Sarah Elizabeth Shelton (1878-1956) who married Fred Pinkney Crismon in Miller County. 

Davis and Cora were parents of eleven children; three died in infancy. Their other children included:
​
Mabel Armoral Hickey 1899-1934 m. Willie Crane 1920
Logan Allen Hickey 1901-1990 m. Ruby Kidwell 1928
Omar Hickey m. Sarah/Sally Shackleford 1924
Clay Taylor Hickey 1906-1980 m. Cora E. Vaughan
Myron Davis Hickey 1914-2004 m. Wilma Livingston
Vergie Hickey m. ________Byers
(Vergie once taught the country school at the railroad
settlement called Hoecker in northern Osage township)
Theda Hickey m. ________Herz

Davis lived until 1946 when he died of an apparent heart attack at his farm near Tuscumbia. He was found in his home by friends who had come to take him to his doctor that particular day. 

In early life, and before moving to the Tuscumbia area, Davis and Cora were members of the Smyrna church near Iberia and after moving to Tuscumbia, he transferred his membership to the Tuscumbia Christian Church.

When Davis died in 1946, at the age of 71 years, he was survived by his wife, Cora; 5 children; two sisters (Nora and Nona); 2 brothers (Wilbert and Weimer); 19 grandchildren; and 1 great grandchild. His services were held at the Tuscumbia Christian church by Pastor E. Y. Keiter. A song service by the church group was conducted by T. C. Wright. He was buried at the Tuscumbia cemetery with the Hedges and Bilyeu Funeral Services in charge.

In a matter of time, Cora Arizona (Shelton) Hickey was married again to Polk Fancher (some records show the spelling as Pope). She died on 12 Nov 1970 and was buried at the Iberia cemetery with her tombstone that read "Cora Elizabeth Arizona (Shelton) Fancher (1879-1970). That is the only record I have seen where her name also included Elizabeth......Her services were conducted by Rev. James Bade at the Iberia Christian Church.