Barbourville, Ky. – Barbourville, Ky. – Ricky Edward Hobbs, age 62, passed away Friday, August 22, 2025. Ricky was born in John’s Branch, Scalf, Kentucky, on 6/12/1963 to Bert Hobbs and Ida Collins Hobbs.
Ricky, fondly known to many as “Sungranny”, was a kind, hardworking man who enjoyed caring for and loving others, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time outdoors exploring the woods for ginseng and beaver sticks and riding his four-wheeler. He was a collector of coins and arrowheads, always keeping them perfectly polished, and was always up for watching a classic Western. Sungranny will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Left behind to mourn Ricky’s passing is his wife Shirley Hobbs; son Ricky Edward Hobbs, Jr. (Carol); daughters Ida Gail Lieberum (David), Mary Lynn Newman (Brian), Suzanna Rasha Lawson (Dalton) and Brianna Paige Bright (Matthew); and sister Jeanettte Hobbs. Twelve cherished grandchildren: Alex Lieberum, Luna Lieberum, Jake Lieberum, Anastasia Lawson, Parker Lawson, Arthur Hobbs, Dempsey Hobbs, Viola Newman, LilyAnna Newman, Jim Newman, Brylynn Newman, and Madelyn Newman also survive Ricky. Ricky was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Ida Hobbs; brother Bert Hobbs, Jr. and his wife Sandra and brother Stoney Hobbs and his wife Regina; and sister Susie Smith.
The Hobbs family will receive friends at Hopper Funeral Home, Monday, August 25, 2025, from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM and Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour of 2:00 PM. Mr. Mike Collins will read the obituary. Interment will follow the funeral service in the A. J. Gray Cemetery at Flat Lick, Kentucky. Casket Bearers are Ricky Hobbs, Jr., Ida Gail Lieberum, Wendell Lynn Hobbs, Harrison Smith, Dalton Lawson, and Hayden Hobbs. Honorary Casket Bearers are WB Hubbard, David Lieberum, and Ken Mills.
The Hopper Family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, and the staff of Hopper Funeral Home, Mrs. Lorena Blankenship, Mr. Reid Brewer, Mr. Robin Reese, Mr. Steven Walker, Ms. Quinlynn Chrisco, Ms. Nicole Collins, and Mrs. Brenda Johnson, express sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ricky Edward Hobbs.
Hopper Funeral Home, Inc., established over 100 years ago, is in charge of servicing all arrangements for Ricky Edward Hobbs.
