Dr. Beverly Lee Ricks

1928 - 2018

Dr. Beverly Lee Ricks

Monroe - Funeral services for Dr. Beverly Lee Ricks, age 89, of Monroe will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday August 24, 2018 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel on Lamy Lane in Monroe, LA. Pastor Warren Eckhardt will officiate. Burial will be Saturday, August 25 in Union, MS, at a family graveside service.

Dr. Ricks was born on October 10, 1928 in Grand Chenier, LA and died on August 20, 2018 at his home in Monroe, after a brave and lengthy battle with illness.

Dr. Ricks was a retired professor of Biology at Northeast Louisiana University from 1965 till 1996. There he taught zoology, human anatomy and physiology, and organic evolution. He also served as Chairman of the Northeast Regional Science Fair, helped found the Saturday Science program for area middle school students, and was faculty advisor for AED, the Pre-Medical honor society.

Prior to NLU, he taught high school science at West Point, MS and Greenwood, MS. At both he helped numerous students reach the National Science Fair. In 1962, he was named Outstanding Biology Teacher in the state of Mississippi, and Outstanding Biology Teacher in the Southeastern United States.

Dr. Ricks received his B.S. from Mississippi State University, his M.S. from Mississippi College, and his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in 1970. He also did post-graduate work at University of Florida, Florida State University, and Cornell University.

Dr. Ricks served in the Army Air Corps starting in 1946, which led to his lifelong love of flying, which he enjoyed up until retirement.

Dr. Ricks was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Albert Ricks and Fannie McCall Ricks of Union, MS. Also by his brothers, Kenneth Ricks of Vicksburg, MS, and Thomas Ricks, Jr. of Wimberley, TX.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Mary Heflin Ricks. Also by his sons, Dr. Barry Ricks (Beth) of Monroe and Billy Ricks (Alison) of Loveland, CO. He also leaves his cherished grandchildren - Kaitlyn, Perry, Mary Lu, and Carter.

His lifelong hobbies were reading and traveling. After retirement, B.L. and Mary visited every continent except Antarctica. (He wanted to go, but she wouldn't let him.) In his younger years, he was a competitive speed boat driver, scuba diver, as well as a pilot. He enjoyed doing family genealogy, building model airplanes, and watching waterfowl and wildlife from his back porch. His favorite hobby though, was spending time with his grandchildren - watching their sporting events and telling them stories.

Visitation will be 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Friday, August 24 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel on Lamy Lane, with service following at 6:00 PM. Any memorials can be made to the Building Fund at North Monroe Baptist Church, where Dr. and Mrs. Ricks were members since 1966.

Special thanks to all the nurses and doctors at St. Francis Hospital, especially Dr. Mike Sampognaro, and Dr. Greg Sampognaro.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.