Mrs. Jimmye Sue Lickliter

Jimmye Sue Lickliter of Indianapolis passed away at Hooverwood Living Tuesday morning, September 24. She was 91.

Born in Indianapolis, May 15, 1933, to Leslie Fox and Virginia Criswell, Jimmye Sue grew up on the near west side of the city in the neighborhood known as The Valley. Much of her youth was spent in the home of her maternal grandparents, Ernest “Red” and Catherine Criswell. She attended both public and parochial primary schools and was a loyal Continental at Washington High where she was active on both the school newspaper and yearbook, enjoyed attending athletic events, plays, performances and school dances. Following graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Arlan Lickliter. They lived in a trailer on the campus of Hanover College while Jimmye Sue began raising their children and Arlan attended classes. Following graduation, they moved back to Indianapolis where he began teaching and coaching on the city’s northside. In 1962 they moved to Boulder, Colorado for one year while Arlan studied for his master’s degree at the university. They lived in Chautauqua Park below the Flatirons and were able to travel much of the west and southwest in their ’59 Skoda. She often reminisced of their time in the mountains with joy and nostalgia. Upon returning to Indianapolis, they founded a youth sports camp on a beautiful property they purchased in Owen County. They spent family summers there during the 1960s, welcoming teams and youth groups to play, compete, swim in the lake and explore the fifty acres of woodland. 

Jimmye Sue was a loving and devoted wife and mother raising five children and supporting Arlan’s coaching by regularly washing uniforms, preparing and serving team meals, hosting players in her home. She enjoyed attending both home and away games, often travelling on winter nights to Anderson, Kokomo, New Castle or Marion and was known to loudly and enthusiastically cheer on the team from the bleachers with other parents and fans. In her late thirties she took the necessary lessons, passed the exam and earned her first driver’s license. She began working part-time for a local baking and catering company, Wedding Cakes by Kidd. She and Arlan joined Faith Church where she remained an active member. She attended Bible Study Fellowship for over twenty-five years and was a group leader for thirteen of those years. After the passing of her husband in 1990, Jimmye Sue became a Butler University basketball fan attending most home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse and often traveling with other die-hard Bulldogs to away games. She worked part-time at The Oxford Shop and Treehouse Tales children’s bookstore. Her home was always filled with books and music. She loved Jazz and had a beautiful singing voice. She was a prolific reader, especially historical fiction. She enjoyed classic movies and most any athletic event. Holidays often brought the family together for meals and celebration. Jimmye Sue enjoyed preparing several of her specialties including home cooked vegetables, pecan pie and a delicious persimmon pudding. 

She loved and was loved by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who have many cherished memories of the years spent together, talking and playing at her home. She particularly enjoyed spending time in New Smyrna Beach, Florida where she loved to vacation near the ocean with her husband and children and in later years with her grandchildren.

She was the oldest of seven children, was preceded in death by her dear sisters Jerrye Ann Evans and Jackye Lou Kidd and is survived by her loving sisters and brothers: Jolynn Hiles, Danny McMullen, Jeffrey McMullen and Jill D. Jones. She is also survived by her five children: Marc Lickliter (former wife Vicki), Todd Lickliter (Joez), Lisa Swartz (Jerry), Rhet Lickliter (Jennifer Gregory), and Beth Anne West (Frank), fifteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. In her final years, Beth Anne was her primary care giver, attending to her physical, emotional and spiritual needs and was by her side at the time of her passing. 

The family wishes to extend their deep and heart-felt gratitude to Hooverwood Living and ARN Hospice for the attentive and loving care they provided Jimmye Sue these past three and a half years. The family also extends a very special thank you to Carlene Henry for loving Jimmye Sue as her own. Jimmye Sue’s time at Hooverwood was blessed by Carlene’s unconditional commitment to her care and well-being. 

A private graveside service will be held for the family.