Hicks with admiring fans, Mike Vaniman and Connie Regan-Blake
Ray and Rosa Hicks had five children and were married for 55 years before his passing in 2003.
Hicks was in demand for engagements around the world, but he rarely stayed away from home overnight. He preferred to let folks come to him for tales.
No matter what he was doing when a visitor arrived, Hicks would stop and tell a tale on the porch.
Hicks became an ambassador for storytelling with his annual performances at the National Storytelling Festival, an event that spurred similar events across the country.
Visitors came from near and far to visit Ray, including Ron Evans from northern Saskatchewan and Larry Syzdek from upstate New York.
Hicks appreciated his audience as much as they appreciated him. “To be with the people, I can feel it in my soul; more spirit there than I have ever felt in any church,” he said
