Dorothy Jean Sikes' Obituary
Dorothy Jean McDonald Sikes was born in Leonard, Fannin County, Texas on March 2, 1925 to Mitchell Porter and Myrtle Francis Harris McDonald. Dot was the oldest of three children, graduating from Leonard High School in 1942. She moved to Dallas, Texas to attend business college, and married her high school sweetheart, Richard H. Sikes, on Dec 14, 1943 while he was on leave from the Army. She lived in Hornell, Steuben County, New York and worked in a dress factory while Dick was overseas, then the couple made their home in Dallas for the rest of their married life.
Dot worked for an insurance company in Dallas for a short while, but left there to work with Dick when he started Sikes Construction Company. Her parents moved to Dallas and her father worked at the construction company. Her brother, Bob, moved his family to Dallas shortly afterwards, and worked for the construction company, too. The families all lived relatively close to each other and spent a lot of time together. Dot always said she enjoyed getting to spend time with her parents their later years.
Dot loved living in her dream house that she and her father-in-law Harold Sikes designed and that Sikes Construction built. Her favorite color was blue and she surrounded herself with it. Even their front door was blue! Called “Oma” by her grandchildren, she enjoyed cooking and loved entertaining family and friends around their backyard pool. Dot also enjoyed attending the formal events held by the Associated General Contractors Association every year. Dot left working in the Sikes Construction office after twenty years to focus on recordkeeping for their home and farm enterprises, which was a big job since they owned several farm properties, houses, horses and cattle over the years.
The Sikes’ had a large circle of friends between the construction industry and Lake Highlands Methodist Church. She loved to talk and enjoyed any opportunity to visit! Dot moved into assisted living in 2013 in Dallas, and passed away April 12, 2021 at the age of 96 at Seven Oaks Nursing Home in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas. She never lost her sense of humor nor the ability to enjoy a conversation.
Dot was preceded in death by her husband Richard H. Sikes in 2006. She is survived by brother Bobby Ray McDonald and wife Sondra of Dallas; by sister Joanne Allen Eaves and husband Bill of Plainview, Texas, by daughter Lea Ann Sikes Thomas and husband Jim of Bonham, Texas, by two grandchildren Mallory L. Black of Carmel, Indiana and Brian J. Black of Dallas, Texas, and by numerous nieces and nephews.
Interment will be at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.
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