Service Monday for Gardnerville native, businessman

Native Gardnerville resident and businessman James K. Hickey, 91, will be laid to rest Monday less than a mile from where he was born.

A service is 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church for the third-generation Nevadan, who died April 6, 2009, at his home. Burial at the Garden Cemetery will follow the service.

Born April 7, 1917, at the Gardnerville Hospital to James E. Hickey and Mary Lange Hickey, he was raised just two houses down from the red-brick hospital, now known as the Manoukian Building. His mother would often say she always knew when surgery was under way because she could smell the ether from the hospital.

His grandparents were Heinrich "Henry" Lange and Sophia Kammerman Lange, and James Hickey and Mary Ann Nolan Hickey. Both sets of grandparents were immigrants from Germany and Ireland, to Nevada in the late 1880s.

The Lange/Hickey home is still in the family, resided in by fourth-generation Tom Hickey and wife Terri, their two sons being the fifth generation to live in the home.

Mr. Hickey served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, stationed on the USS Block Island, Fighter Squadron No. 98, where he worked on fighter planes.

He was one of the "founding fathers" of Little League baseball in Carson Valley. He served on the Gardnerville Volunteer Fire Department for many years, and also the Gardnerville Town Board. He was a member of the 20-30 Club and involved in other organizations in the Carson Valley as well. He was a senior of the year in 2008, and a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Gardnerville.

Mr. Hickey was married to Grace Oxoby on May 19, 1940, at St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville.

Together the couple built, owned and operated the Jimmy's Motel and Frosty Spot for many years in Gardnerville. In 1969 they sold the business and retired to Marla Bay, Lake Tahoe.

Their they started new jobs, with Grace at Joseph Magnin's and Mr. Hickey working for the Douglas County School District, mostly at Whittell High School.

The couple enjoyed traveling, especially in their motor home, until Grace became ill and died in August 1979.

Mr. Hickey continued to live at Marla Bay and traveling in his motor home, spending many winters in Lake Havasu, Ariz., for almost two decades.

A few years ago, Mr. Hickey moved back to the Valley, where he lived at Carson Valley Care Center Assisted Living, so that he was closer to his three sons.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Grace, his parents and grandparents.

He is survived by three sons, Mike Hickey and wife Sylvia, Dan Hickey and wife Laurie, and Tom Hickey and wife Terri; seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Donations may be made to the Douglas County Historical Society.