Former Bainbridge Island resident Patricia A. Wicks, age 64, died under hospice care April 11 at the Wicks residence in LaConner, after a five-year battle with cancer.

She was born June 23, 1938 in Walla Walla and resided in the University District of Seattle until 1960.

She graduated from Holy Names Academy in 1956, and attended Seattle University and the University of Washington.

She met her husband, John G. Wicks, now a retired navy commander, in San Francisco, Calif., while she was employed with Wells Fargo Bank.

The navy took them to duty tours at San Diego, Calif., Newport, R.I., New Orleans, La., Omaha, Neb., Pensacola, Fla., and many travel destinations as well.

Following retirement in 1979, the Wicks resided on Bainbridge Island for the next 21 years. During six of those years, Patricia was employed by Bainbridge Youth Services, which she helped establish and grow. She then spent seven years as director of volunteers for Hospice of Kitsap County.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David. B. and Opal E. Lonon of Seattle.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, John; her daughter Jocelyn E. Wicks and grandson Jed Gordon Henry of Monroe; her son John M. Wicks and his partner Jenna of Seattle; her sister Elizabeth Erickson and husband Dr. Edwin Erickson of Sunnyvale, Calif.; three nieces, Amy, Bonnie and Naomi Erickson; two nephews, Jessie and David Erickson; and six grand-nephews, Jonathan, Joshua, Jacob, Joseph, Jared and James, all children of David and Ines Erickson of Philomath, Ore.

In addition to family, to whom she was affectionately known as “Big Mama,” she enjoyed tennis, jazz and good books.

Dates for a private gathering of friends and subsequent burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Hospice of Kitsap County, P.O. Box 3416, Silverdale WA 98383-3416.