Dorothy "Dottie" H. Hicks

Dorothy was born in Shanghai, China on March 19, 1925, to Dorothy Crawford Lloyd, a nurse with Yale in China, and Laurence Trevor Helfrich, an English professor at Shanghai University. She lived there until age 8. She moved to Ventura from Cheshire, CT. in 1978 when she married Harry J. Hicks, Jr., a friend from her youth.

Dottie valued community work, and was a longtime supporter of the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, First United Methodist Church of Ventura, Ventura Friends of the Library, the Seamen’s Church Institute, New West Symphony and music programs at Cabrillo Middle and Ventura High Schools. She was lifelong volunteer wherever she lived. She was past President of Ventura Rotary Anns, an active member of the Assistance League Ventura and the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter FZ Ventura, where she was also a past President.

Dottie was an avid reader who harbored a deep love of the ocean, sailing, fishing and fossil and rock hunting, which she shared with her first husband and her children and actively enjoyed to the end with the help of her sons. She spent her time at Assistance League Bargain Box, knitted caps and scarves for the Seamen’s Church Institute, and belonged to a local book club and birthday lunch group, all activities and people she cherished.

Dottie was preceded in death by her first husband of 21 years, Joseph Preston Jelks, her son, Guy Helfrich Jelks, and her second husband of 24 years, Harry J. Hicks, Jr.

She is survived by her sons, Joseph Preston Jelks, Jr. (Melek Karacan) of Lewes, DE and John Lloyd Jelks (Laura) of Chesapeake Beach, MD; daughter Lauren Jelks Doyel (John) of Ventura, CA; granddaughters, Lindsey Jelks Iles of Fort Worth, TX, Bethany Taylor Jelks of Austin, TX, Sarah Elizabeth Doyel and Clare Marie Doyel of Ventura, CA; great grandson, Jackson Lee Iles. She is also survived by her extended family of Hicks children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Anyone wishing to donate in Dottie’s name should direct their donations to Cottey College, Goucher College, Community Memorial Hospital or their favorite educational charity.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2013, 3:00 P.M., at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, with The Reverend Charles Simmons officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.