Janis Hickman

Janis Colleen McGee Hickman was born on February 13, 1956 in Harlan, Iowa as the youngest of three girls to the Reverend John Paul and Vera Coats McGee. As the daughter of a pastor, she grew up in various places in Iowa and Nebraska. She loved music and learned to play the piano from her mother at a young age; she would later play clarinet in her high school band. Her sister, Laura, led her to faith in Christ at the age of sixteen, and she was then baptized. Soon after, Janis and her sister, Mary, were in a tragic car accident where Mary died. She graduated from high school in Columbus, Nebraska. Later, moving to Texas to be with Laura, she attended and subsequently graduated from Dallas Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education. She met Paul Hickman there, who had returned to DBC after serving in the Navy. They fell in love as they studied the book of Daniel together and wrestled with theories in Contemporary Society class. They were married in 1978. She worked as a secretary with a Christian ministry before giving birth to Bethany two years later. Nathaniel came two and a half years after that, and Christina followed soon behind. She worked as a teacher's aide before later homeschooling her three children for several years. She was a very good seamstress, sewing her own wedding dress and many clothes for her family over the years. In 1994, Janis was diagnosed with myeloproliferative disorder and began her twenty-one year battle with this bone marrow cancer and all the secondary complications. With the help of her family, church, and friends, she lovingly continued to raise her children despite numerous hospitalizations and weekly tests and treatments. Over the years, as Janis struggled with constant pain, she bravely trusted and depended upon the Lord to see her through. As she was able, she continued to be involved in her church, Plano Bible Chapel, through Bible studies and sewing groups. Before her health problems limited her, she enjoyed traveling up north to see her extended family. She very much loved being a grandma, and her four grandkids were the light of MiMi's life. She was in the hospital many times over the last few years with increasingly severe health problems. This last time when it became clear that she couldn't win the fighting anymore, she expressed a desire to just go home to see Jesus and not hurt anymore, as well as such sadness to miss out on her children and grandkids' lives. Janis went home to be with her Savior on January 18, 2015 while surrounded by her family. While she will be dearly missed, those who love her are rejoicing that she is no longer suffering and is with the One who dries all tears. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Mary McGee. Also, by her three stillborn babies: Jesse Gabriel, Benjamin Earl, & Michael James.
Janis is survived by her loving and devoted husband Paul Hickman, children Bethany Griffin and husband Don, Nathaniel Hickman and wife Karla, Christina Hickman, grandchildren Brenna Griffin, Levi Hickman, Noah Hickman, Asher Hickman, sister Laura Moore, nephew Joseph Moore, brothers and sisters-in-law Lewis Hickman and wife Patty, Dan Hickman and wife Danni, Rebecca Lutzer and husband Erwin, Mary Weaverling, Julie Hastings and husband Donnie.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Allen Family Funeral Options. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 11:30 AM at Plano Bible Chapel, 1900 Shiloh Road, Plano, Texas 75074. The family respectfully requests as an alternative to flowers, memorial gifts be given in Janis's name to her church, Plano Bible Chapel.