Our Staff

Mrs. Gwendelrae Hicks

Mrs. Gwendelrae Hicks, Company Founder, Owner, President, CFOP, COO, Scottie Hicks CFVOP, CEO of Northern Star Mortuary.

Gwendelrae was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas and is a 1993 graduate of Manhattan High School, she attended Kansas State University taking general study courses before moving to Kansas City, Kansas to attend Mortuary School.   She is a 1998 graduate of the Kansas City, Kansas Community College Mortuary Science Program with an Associate degree in Applied Science.

She received her calling at the age of 16 into the vocation of funeral service and was given the vision of ownership.  At the age of 31 Gwendelrae became the youngest and first black female licensed mortician in the state of Kansas.  Her goal was to open by the time she was 32 and she made it 40 days before that goal. 

She and her husband Scottie Hicks are the founders and 1st generation funeral homeowners of Northern Star Mortuary.  June 21st, 2007, the doors of NSM opened, serving the greater Kansas City metropolitan area for 14 years, October 7th, 2019, the second location was opened in Wichita, Kansas.

Gwendelrae is passionate about her calling and lives by the four pillars of her company, Knowledge, Passion, Compassion and Faith.  She and her staff strive to assist and guide families in their time of need.