Gwen Hicks, of Canyon, a retired educator, longtime volunteer, champion for children, and founder of Amarillo Angels, has died. She was 66.
Tributes started pouring in on social media for Hicks — who was also named Canyon’s 2025 Citizen of the Year — from various groups and individuals over the weekend and into Monday, Aug. 3, upon news of her passing on her birthday, July 31.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved founder, Gwen Hicks,” Amarillo Angels shared in a post on Facebook Monday. “There are no words that can adequately describe the impact Gwen left on Amarillo, on the foster care community, and on the countless children, families, volunteers, and advocates whose lives she touched. She laid the foundation for Amarillo Angels, where her unwavering compassion and determination to love others well, grew into a community rooted in hope, connection, and belonging.”…