Shirley Ann Hicks

Shirley Ann Hicks, 91, of Kettering passed peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on August 18, 2025.

Shirley was born on September 2, 1933 at St. Ann's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio to Cecil Samuel & Gladys Ruth (Bayless) Mutispaugh. Her father passed when Shirley was just three, so her maternal grandfather helped her mother raise her and her younger sister.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Beverly Jean (Mutispaugh) Large, brother-in-law Scott Large, sister-in-law Bobbie (Hicks) Meece, son-in-law Randy Whitacre and Shirley's husband of 47 years, Gerald Ray Hicks.

She is survived by her two daughters, Terri Lynn (Hicks) Whitacre and Tracy Ann (Hicks) Leonard, D.V.M. (Jeffrey Leonard) and two grandchildren, Robert Lee Leonard and Kathryn Ann Leonard, and two nieces, Karen Meece and Cheryl Large Severns.

Shirley was a 1951 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School in Dayton, Ohio. Shirley met her future husband Ray Hicks in high school. They were active with the class reunion committee for the "Teddies", Roosevelt's mascot, and Shirley had quite a collection of Teddy Bears.

Shirley was first employed at the Dayton Board of Education office as a stenographer. She later took classes at Sinclair College in real estate.

Shirley co-owned the Centre City Smoke Shoppe in downtown Dayton with Ray and she worked for the marketing research firm Elrick & Lavidge, testing and surveying everything from baby diapers to toothpaste preferences.

She worked a short time for Bergamo Center in the kitchen and in housekeeping. By far, Shirley's favorite job was working for a boss she dearly loved, her daughter Tracy, the veterinarian. Shirley did bookkeeping for many years for Dr. Tracy's Indian Ripple Veterinary Clinic. She enjoyed visiting her daughter Terri in SW Florida and assisting with Terri's Dance Showcase recitals for many years.

Terri, a home ec major, always felt that her Mother was the true home economist of the family with her home management, budgeting, shopping, nutrition, culinary, sewing and child care skills. Shirley was an excellent cook and baker, making everything from homemade noodles to birthday cakes from scratch. She was definitely Terri's inspiration for her career.

Shirley was an avid Ohio State football and TBDBITL marching band fan. She attended many Fairmont East and then Kettering Fairmont home football games and marching band competitions. Shirley enjoyed seeing more than 200 musicals and plays in her lifetime: Kenley Players summer stock theater, high school and professional touring productions, and even saw two musicals on Broadway in New York City. She especially loved the musicals "Camelot" and "Phantom of the Opera".

Shirley loved Mickey and Minnie Mouse. She enjoyed visiting Disney World, joining Terri and Randy in their RV while camping at Fort Wilderness one time, and while camping in Pigeon Forge to visit Dollywood, too.

Shirley was a dedicated newspaper reader of the Kettering-Oakwood Times, the Journal Herald and the Dayton Daily News. She made sure her children and grandchildren often visited the local library. Shirley was an expert on Dayton history and loved visiting the National Air Force Museum and taking the behind-the-scenes tour each summer to view what the volunteers were restoring for display. She enjoyed visiting Carillon Park to see all the historic Dayton buildings preserved there as well as the many inventions by Daytonians. She was a sharp Trivia player and had fun correctly answering a lot of questions when watching "Jeopardy"!

Shirley had two special dogs, Beau, a poodle, and Bonnie, one of Tracy's bred Basenjis, the barkless hound. Both dogs lived long lives with Shirley and Dr. Tracy's care.

Shirley was a triple heart bypass survivor of 23 years and wishes for donations to be made in her memory to the American Heart Association or to the Ohio's Hospice Foundation. She was deeply loved by her daughters, neighbors, family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Shirley to the American Heart Association or Ohio's Hospice Foundation.

Visitation is Friday August 22, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home, Beavercreek, Ohio. Shirley will be laid to rest privately at David’s Cemetery.