Paul Reagan Ricks

Paul Reagan Ricks, 83, of Woodville, Texas, passed away December 7, 2025, at his home in Woodville, Texas, surrounded by his family.  He was born in San Augustine, Texas on August 26, 1942, to Cecil Simmons Ricks and Leola Bossier Ricks.  He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Pt. Arthur, Texas, in 1960 and LIT in 1963. Paul worked as an operator with Neches Butane and Huntsman Corp. in Pt. Neches for 34 years.  He retired and fulfilled a dream to live in the beautiful forests of Tyler County with his devoted wife of 61 years, Nancy Hart Ricks. He was a Master Mason for over 50 years and a member of Magnolia Lodge No. 495 of Woodville, Texas. 

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Cecil Ricks, Jr., and Haywood Ricks. 

Each fall for over 50 years, he traveled to his Navasota-river bottom deer camp where he spent time watching the sun rise from a deer stand in that beautiful, hardwood bottom and listening to the howl of coyotes at night. He passed on his love and respect of nature to his family, and his son proudly carries on this tradition.  This is where he said that he felt closest to God, in the stillness of God’s creation. 

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Alyssa DeVillier of The Woodlands; son, Derek Ricks and his wife, Cheral of Wynnewood, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Peyton Carlton, and great-grandchildren, Rowan Baggett and Sutton Carlton of Woodville; Granddaughter, Brittany Hay, and great-grandchildren, Alanis and Makari Cherry. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 11, from 5 to 7 PM.  A celebration of his life will be on Friday, December 12, at 10 AM at Riley’s Funeral Home in Woodville, Texas. Officiating will be Brother Rusty West, pastor of Hillister Assembly of God Church. Burial will be held at the Old Hardin Cemetery in Kountze, Texas.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul Reagan Ricks, please visit our floral store.