Our dear aunt, Mary Lico of Watsonville, left us on January 27th. She was born May 23, 1923 to Clementine and John Doris, in Cherokee County Kansas. She moved to Hollister in 1940, where she attended high school and met her future husband and dancing partner, Elmer. They were married August 19, 1943.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Lico, sister Lena Lico, brothers Joe Doris and Mike Doris. She is survived by her sister, Claire Vessey, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Mary treated all of us as her children!
Mary led a full, productive and active life. Around 1960 she returned to school to attain her beautician’s license. Upon completion of her schooling, she owned and operated the Beauty Salon in Ford’s Department store in downtown Watsonville. Eventually Mary opened Mary-El’s Coiffures on East Lake St. She worked there until she retired. The amazing thing to all of us is that she did all of this while being an active working partner in the family businesses: Lico & Greco Tavern, Grocery Store, and Farms.
Mary never truly retired. She was a tireless caregiver for her husband Elmer, her mother-in-law Sarah Lico and her aunt Anne Greco. She continued to weed at the ranch whenever she was in Hollister. In fact, she carried a kit of small hand tools and roundup in the trunk of her car to keep ‘all’ weeds in check. Almost every day she swept the sidewalk and curb in front of the Tavern. In fact, her dedication and hard work was observed by the workers, whom she befriended, who were building the new Parajo Bridge. When the bridge was dedicated, Mary was recognized by the County of Monterey and awarded the Broom.
On Tuesday, February 5th, 2019 family and friends will meet at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 a.m. for a Mass of the Resurrection. Donations are preferred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Multiple Sclerosis Association c/o the mortuary.
