Dorcas Deborah Hicks WatsonNaples, FLDorcas Deborah Hicks Watson, of Naples, aged 98, died (peacefully, after a short illness) on October 17, 2017, and was predeceased by her husband, Edwin. Dorcas was born on August 15th, 1919 in Haywood County, North Carolina in a suburb of the city of Canton. She was the first born to Reverend B. L. Hicks of Canton and Eva Leona Brooks Hicks of the Beaverdam Community near Asheville, NC. Dorcas was a talented musician and played piano for her father in his ministry throughout her early years. As a teenager, Dorcas organized and led the formation and performance of several female Gospel singing groups which performed at State-wide religious occasions, most notably the annual Camp Meetings of her father's Pentecostal Churches throughout the State of Florida.Upon graduation from High School, Dorcas moved to Atlanta to attend night school and find employment. There she met and married Edwin M. Watson in 1939 and continued to reside in Atlanta until moving to Naples. Following the loss of her father, in the Gulf on a deep-sea fishing expedition, she and Edwin moved to Naples with their first born, "Little Eddie", and arrived in Naples in 1946 with less than ten dollars in their pockets.Dorcas, as part of a group including her husband, plus Roy McCall and Lovell Meadows, provided occasional entertainment in the form of vocal and instrumental music at Naples' leading night club, the "Trail Tavern", where she played the piano and refused every attempt to trick her into tasting alcohol. Employment with The Naples Company, developer of Naples, which included the off-season manager of the historic Naples Hotel, ended when Dorcas joined with her husband, Edwin, to established "Edwin M. Watson, Realtor", a leading real estate firm during the fifties, a firm which played a significant role in the early development of today's prestigious Aqualane Shores.Shortly after Hurricane Donna, showing considerable pioneering spirit ... and faith in the Divine Providence, Dorcas and Edwin borrowed all the money they could find to build the "Mariner Motel and Apartments" at the foot of the Fishing Pier in Olde Naples. "The Mariner" was erected in '66 and remains a family owned and operated business.Dorcas was always a generous and consistent supporter of her father's ministry and his churches. She contributed generously to the establishment of a scholarship fund and to the construction of physical facilities at Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, which is affiliated with the Church of God. Dorcas is survived by her two children: Edwin M. Watson, Jr. and wife Judy; plus Gordon R. Watson, II, and wife Pam; plus grandson Gordon R. Watson, III; as well as two brothers, Bartley L. Hicks, Jr., and wife Carole, and Barnabas B. Hicks; and two foster children from El Salvador, Gilberto Campos and Maria Elena Young.