Gertrude Ricks

Gertrude (known as Judy) Ann Ricks died January 5, 2023 at the age of 98. Born November 19, 1924, she was the second oldest of a family of 10 girls and 2 boys in Denver, CO. She met her husband Billy Jo Ricks at a church sponsored dance for servicemen who stopped in Denver on their way to Georgia for basic training, before shipping out to fight in the Pacific during WWII. After 2 years of a letter-writing courtship, he returned and they were married and moved to Stockton/Sacramento for Bill to attend college. He accepted a job with the California Division of Highways (now Cal/Trans) and moved to Central Valley in 1955. She was proud to be the original owner of her home of 67 years, where she and Bill provided a loving and nurturing environment for their 3 children. Judy's loving hand also brought forth from the red dirt a beautiful garden, treasures of which now grace the gardens of her children and grandchildren. She ran a personal daycare in her home for 40 years, sometimes caring for children of children she had cared for. She retired from this at the age of 82, so much was the demand from the families who loved her and the care she provided for their children. She treasured all the gifts she received from these families and had labels stating "so and so gave me this at this time"...and seeing the gift always triggered a prayer for them. It is hard to quantify the positive influence she had on so many families through her care. Judy was a talented seamstress, sewing clothes for her whole family during the era it was cheaper to sew your own clothes. She taught her daughters to sew, took on sewing assignments as a side job, and helped sew bridesmaid's dresses for her granddaughters in her late 80's /early nineties. She was also a blue ribbon winner for crocheting. Her main passion was vegetable and flower gardening that she pursued into her mid- nineties. She had a great eye and appreciation for beauty and garden design. Her love of nature and especially birds continued until the end of her life. Judy's main joy, however, was spending time with her children and their spouses, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her "see you soon baboon litany, and "give me five" and singing "I love you a bushel and a peck," will lovingly remain in our hearts, as will her faith filled "Que, sera, sera". She kept us all in her prayers, but also any person who was brought to mind by a gift noticed, or a memory of prior aid in time of need, would trigger a prayer of gratitude for them. There is no doubt her prayers will continue from heaven. In the community, Bill and Judy were active in the American Legion and Woman's Auxiliary. She was also an active parishioner at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Her contributions were many years of cleaning the church, caring for church linens (even ironing them with a heart rate in the 40's while waiting for her pacemaker, because "I have to get them done."), bringing Holy Communion to the housebound, driving people to church, helping with the Roses for Life program, visiting in the home of needy individuals to assess how the St. Vincent de Paul Society could provide assistance, and donating food for their food bank. She used her widow's mite to donate to other charities. Her encouraging greeting to her fellow church family members to "Keep on truckin'," will be missed. She is survived by her son Michael Ricks (Gayla), daughter Judy Burns (Arthur), daughter Elizabeth Cordero (Mark) and sisters Eileen Crutcher, and Dorothy Scott. She had 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. On January 21, 2023 at St. Michael's church in Shasta Lake City there will be a rosary at 10:00 am, followed by Mass at 10:30 am, with reception to follow at the hall. Interment will follow at St. Joseph's cemetery in Redding, CA. Donations in memory of Judy, can be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Joseph Church, 2040 Walnut Ave, Redding, CA 96001. Her simple and loving kindness was truly a light in this world that hopefully we will carry on until we meet again.
Arrangements are pending at Allen and Dahl Funeral Chapel in Redding 530.243.1525