In the home of her daughter Lisa Christian, Jean Ogle Hickey passed on 20 April 2023 in Fort Pierce, Florida. She was 93.

Jean Ogle was born on 12 May 1929 to Lillian Hicks Ogle and Robert Carroll Ogle and grew up in Ithaca where her father was a professor at Cornell University. Jean loved ice skating, dancing, and cooking—the latter of which developed into her studies in home economics (now Family and Consumer Sciences) and a 1961-1965 teaching position at Laurens Central School. With her savings, she booked her family passage on the SS France as part of a six-week trip in Europe.

Jean was an inveterate traveler that included dozens of car-camping trips with her children (and their friends) throughout the U.S. as well as international travels with her husband. In the early 1960s, Jean brought together two of her loves by creating a four-couple "gourmet group" that for 50 years got together each month to eat the food of a different nation.

Jean also loved gardening and flowers which led her to purchase and run Wyckoff's Florist from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. Her main interests, however, were family and community. In addition to raising four children, Jean taught Sunday School at Oneonta's First Presbyterian Church; was a Brownie Troop Leader, a Girl Scout Troop Leader, and a 4-H Leader. She was also a longtime member (and president) of Oneonta's Garden Club. During summers, the family hosted children through the Fresh Air Fund, and during the school year, hosted foreign students studying at SUNY Oneonta.

For 10 years, Jean was on the SUNY Oneonta College Foundation Board (receiving the Excellence in Alumni Service Award in 2010). The Jean Ogle Hickey '52 and Thomas E. Hickey Scholarship continues to support SUNY Oneonta students.

Jean enjoyed a long and happy life that included regular family reunions (organized by her) in six states. Throughout the years, Jean unfailingly sent birthday, Christmas, and anniversary cards and gifts to her growing family. Although she did not dance as often as she wanted, she never missed her coffee, chocolate, and wine, the latter of which began promptly at 5 pm (with some cheating on weekends) while her husband had his dry martini. This cocktail-hour ritual strengthened the lifelong bond that Jean's favorite song, "Moon River," describes as a couple "off to see the world … [that is] waiting, round the bend."

Jean's energy seemed boundless, and she smiled and laughed until a few weeks before her passing. Jean's death was preceded by that of her twin sister, Jane (2020), her four elder sisters (Elaine Adams, Wynn Somers, Carol Woods, and Doris Dye), her second son, James Hickey (1955), and her loving husband of 67 years, Tom Hickey (2021).

Jean Ogle Hickey has "rounded the last bend" and now rests in a hand-woven willow and sea grass casket at the family plot in Milford. She is survived by her children Kevin Hickey (married to Hanna) in NY, Curtis Hickey (married to Nancy) in WA, Gael Carter (married to Jon) in WY, and Lisa Christian (married to Ken) in FL, as well as 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

In celebration of a life well lived, please consider donating to The Nature Conservancy, The First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta, or The Alzheimer's Association.

Expressions of sympathy and recollections are most welcome at www.lhpfuneralhome.com