Grant Hickey Jr.

November 11, 1928 - March 5, 2022

Grant Hickey of Sweetwater, age 93, passed away March 5, 2022. He was raised in the Ball Camp community of West Knoxville where he graduated from Karns High School. Afterwards, he joined the Air Force and served at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. In 1956, he married Eula Gray Yarnell and they celebrated 60 years of marriage. He worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for 18 years and then followed his dream of farming full time. He bought a dairy farm in Sweetwater and moved his family there. He became a member of First Baptist Church in Sweetwater where he served as a deacon. Over the years, he was a board member for Ag Credit, President and board member of McMinn County Farm Bureau, and a founding board member of Sweetwater Area Ministries. After retiring from the dairy business, he worked with Seaton’s Iron and Metal. His business sense served him well with these ventures. He is preceded in death by his parents Ulysses Grant and Ella Mae Hickey, brother Ronald Hickey, and wife Eula Gray Hickey. He is survived by son and daughter- in-law Robert and Peggy Hickey, and daughter and son-in-law Tamela and Alan King, all of Sweetwater. Grandchildren include Brent and wife Tiffany Hickey, Cameran Hickey, Skylar King, Khayman King and fiance Macey Shelton, and Alanna King, all of Sweetwater. Great granddaughters include Emori, Mary Cate, and Maddie Hickey, and Everlea King, all of Sweetwater. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, March 8 at 11:00 AM at Sweetwater Memorial Park with Nick Haas speaking and Dr. Leonard Markham officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church Sweetwater and Sweetwater Area Ministries.