Gertrude Belle Hicks

How do we write an obituary? How do we include all those facets of someone's life that made them
sparkle and convey the depth of our love and respect for our loved one? My mother means so many things to so many people, all with a different perspective of who she might be, and all of them
wonderful. -Linda
Gertrude Belle Hicks, known to most as Belle, was born on October 30, 1927 to a circus man and a high-society San Franciscan. She took her last breath at 10:00 a.m. on March 5, 2023 at the age of 95, in the arms of her loving daughters Linda Hicks and Marilyn Barker, and her son, Clyde William Hicks. She chose her own path during her life and in the manner of her passing. Our respect for
her courage is immeasurable.
She led a remarkable life. She was smart and creative. She learned to fly, raised a family, then went to college and earned a Masters degree in Anthropology. She traveled with friends and with her husband, Richard Hicks. When they moved to Ukiah, she volunteered at Grace Hudson Museum, Ukiah Players Theatre (UPT), and Plowshares. Doing props with UPT was probably the happiest time of her life. She was active in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and made lasting friends there. She was an artist and poet. She excelled at woodworking, sewing, ceramics and any other craft she explored. She loved cats and dragons. After she lost the majority of her sight, undaunted, she traveled the world with Linda, usually cruising on a five-masted schooner, zip-lining at age 83, and making friends wherever she went. She touched many.
Belle thought highly of Plowshares, UPT, and Earle Baum Center of the Blind. Instead of flowers,
please consider giving a donation to one of her favorites. And please share your stories here and with each other. Help us add more threads to the tapestry of her life.