Obituary: Julie Lancaster Hickcox of Watertown

Obituary courtesy of Hickox Funeral Home

WATERTOWN- Julie Lancaster Hickcox passed away peacefully on Tuesday July 20, 2021.

Julie was born February 13, 1928 in Waterbury, CT to the late Julia and Curtis Lancaster and was the widow of the late Frank Bronson Hickcox, Jr. She attended Watertown schools and graduated from Watertown High school in 1945. She was also a graduate of Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, School of Fashion Design. She was a designer of night wear in New York City, the Window Display Manager for Lerner Shop, and newspaper illustrator for the Musler Leibeskind and Friedman Stores in Waterbury. Julie taught Adult Education classes in pottery, rug hooking and braiding, and was a Private Teacher in the greater Waterbury area, teaching fine art in watercolor, oil and acrylic mediums for over 65 years.

Julie was a soloist and member of choirs of local Lutheran churches in the area. She was a member of Homemakers Club (President) of Watertown and Watertown Women’s Club (Vice President). She performed in many lead rolls for the Town Players in Watertown, where she met her husband. She and her husband founded the Watertown Art League in 1968, and she was awarded the Founders Award in 2018 at their 50th year Art Show.

Julie was an accomplished artist in watercolor paintings with honorary memberships in prestigious State and National organizations, also receiving many awards. She was a featured artist for American Artist Magazine. Her fine art is in many collections worldwide. Joyfully she spent many happy summers painting in Rockport, Massachusetts. Painting was always her passion and through her teaching she made many lifelong close friends. She had many one-man shows in New England Art Galleries and was represented by them. Julie was recently selected for inclusion on the Watertown High School Wall of Honor.

Juie is survived by her daughter, Diane Hickcox Darbe and husband, Tom, of Billings, Montana; son Curtis Lancaster Hickcox and wife, Lorraine of Watertown; eight grandchildren, Jessica Kenney Olsen (Greg), Elizabeth Kenney, Amanda Kenney, Melissa Boisclair, Amber Boisclair, Rachel Hickcox, Audrey Hickcox and Luke Hickcox; and four great-grandchildren, Kingston, Zakiyah, Liam, and Kaylani.

A memorial service for Julie will be held on Saturday, August 28, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Church of Bethlehem, 21 Main Street South, Bethlehem. Memorial contributions can be sent to: Terryville Animal Foundation (ARF), 366 Main Street, Terryville, CT 06786.