Jennette Berrien Hicks was welcomed into her Savior’s arms on Thursday, July 16th, 2026. She was born to Peter Berrien and Lurline Hamrick Berrien in San Saba, Texas, on November 14th, 1947. She called the Hill Country her home for most of her life, with her school-aged years spent in Llano and Johnson City. She later moved to the Austin area where she began her most treasured journey as a mother to sons Lance Allen Dufner, Jeffery Dean Dufner, and daughter Stephanie Kay Dufner.
It was during her employment at IBM, that she met her best friend and love of her life, Leland “Jimmy” Hicks, who she married on September 9th, 1977 in Austin, Texas. After building the foundation of their 48-year love story in Austin, they relocated in 1991 to plant their roots in Burnet where they would spend the next 28 years.
For four of those 28 years, they found new adventures in Rochester, Minnesota and Tyler, Texas. During their four years of new adventures, they kept their home in Burnet where the roots that they planted grew into a beautiful life, where they were known as “Grandma and Papa” to 200+ kids - including the class of 2011. Their home on Lake LBJ provided core and loving memories for their family.
In 2019, Jimmy and Jennette ventured onto a new adventure, moving to the Weatherford area where they found serenity in the 14 acres they shared with their granddaughter Kacie, her husband Kyle and great-granddaughter Everly. While her most treasured journey was becoming a mother, she was overjoyed and retired early from IBM once promoted to “Grandma”. Jennette was known for her amazing home cooked meals (particularly her goulash, chili, and breakfast tacos) and her deep love for babies and children. She was further promoted to being a great-grandmother which continued to bring her the most joy until the day she left her home earth-side to her eternal home.
Jennette was an avid sports fan, with her favorite teams being the Texas Longhorns and the Burnet Bulldogs - whose games she listened to, long after moving from Burnet. If she wasn’t watching any sports game she could find on TV, she was watching her beloved Hallmark Christmas movies.
Jennette was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Lurline; brothers, C.D. and Pete Berrien; son, Lance; and daughter, Stephanie.
Jennette is survived by husband, Jimmy; son, Jeff; granddaughters: Kacie (Kyle) Hoagland, Taylor (Harry) Hamrick, Lindsey Dufner, Lauren Dufner, Ashton Pope, and Ty Dufner; and grandsons: Justin (Morgan) Hamrick, and Cody Dufner; and chosen grandsons: Reese Syphrett, Calan Syphrett, Creid Bolm, and Rypp Bolm.
Jennette was also survived by great-granddaughters: Everly, Ryleigh, Ella, Iana, and Avery; and great-grandsons: Jaxtyn, Romeo, and her newest great-grandson due to Cody in early 2027 - whom she was ecstatic to recently learn about.
Jennette’s legacy will also be remembered by surviving nephew, Bradley (Shanna) Berrien, cherished loved family members (both blood and chosen), friends from all her countless adventures, and many cousins to keep memories of their youth spent along the banks of the San Saba River and the back roads from San Saba to Johnson City.
While those who love her are left with a piece of their hearts that will only be filled once reunited in our Eternal Home, we find comfort that she will spend her daughter Stephanie’s birthday on July 18th with her, for the first time in many years.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date to remember the beautiful legacy she gifted those blessed enough to know her.
