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- Dolores "Dee" Hibbard-Elkins-Hutcheson passed away March 3, 2026 at the age of 92. Born in Dallas to Lillian Hibbard-Ash and Rev. J. C. Hibbard, founding pastor of the Gospel Lighthouse Church, Dee's life was centered around music and ministry from the start. Before school each morning, she stood on a stool to reach the microphone at KSKY radio, singing for her family's live broadcast heard across the country.
A graduate of Sunset High School, Dee later pursued studies at SMU and beyond. She was a visionary entrepreneur, founding the Dee of Dallas modeling agency, where she pioneered the use of female models for men's apparel and provided the premiere talent for the annual State Fair of Texas automobile show. Her creative eye later led her to establish Dolores, Inc., an interior design firm with a portfolio spanning residential and commercial projects both domestically and abroad.
Beyond her professional success, Dee was a pillar of the Dallas arts and philanthropic community. She dedicated her time to the USA Film Festival, the Dallas Civic Opera, and the Dallas Ballet. As a board member for the American Heart Association, she was instrumental in establishing free blood pressure clinics throughout the Dallas area. An accomplished pianist and vocalist, she was also known by friends and family as a masterful gourmet cook.
Dee was preceded in death by her sister, June Marie Underwood, and her brother, J.C. Hibbard, Jr. She is survived by her son, Ed Elkins, and his wife Vale Asche Elkins; her grandchildren, Tanner Elkins and Alexandra Elkins; her sisters, Jaynell Songstad and Darlene Walker; Darlene's husband Merv Walker; and many nieces and nephews.
Dee was the owner of DOLORES, INCORPORATED in Dallas, Texas, an interior and exterior design facility for commercial and residential properties. Her projects ranged from local to international including single family homes, villas, apartment complexes, office buildings and hotels.
In 1960 Dee taught and counseled for various modeling colleges including John Robert Powers, Patricia Stevens Finishing College and Loretta Young Way Modeling. In 1963 Dee became Director of the women's division of the President's First Lady Heath Spas and helped launch this exclusive health club in the Dallas market. She led the organization in new membership sales for more than a year and served as figure consultant and initiated various health and exercise programs for some of Dallas' most prominent women. Dee also planned the entertainment and social events to help promote the club.
In 1964 she was known as "Dee Of Dallas" and owner of a comprehensive promotion, production and modeling agency. She not only directed television commercials and films, but appeared in numerous commercials and wrote, narrated, directed and coordinated a movie for Sinclair Oil Company featuring Dallas fashions and points of interest. She received national press coverage for a new and unique way to model men's fashion, was selected to present fashion shows at the opening of the Royal Coach Inn of Dallas and the Marriott Motor Inn in Houston.
In 1968 she was the Administrative Assistant to James H. Bond Enterprises and responsible for screening various banking, financial, real estate and other investment proposals. In addition, she supervised various social and charitable functions in connection with Mr. Bond's civic activities and coordinated the grand opening of the Dallas Fairmont Hotel benefiting the Dallas Civic Opera.
She attended Southern Methodist University and majored in Business Administration. She was the Hospitality Chairman of the Dallas Chapter of the American Heart Association, a Board Member of the USA Film Festival, Dallas Civic Opera, Dallas Ballet, a Volunteer for The Creative Learning Center, Circus-Circus and Friends Of Venice.
This involvement allowed her to give back to the community as well as gain valuable experience and make numerous contacts around the world. Dee had become acquainted through the years with many celebrities including Henry Kissinger, Gregory Peck, Joan Fontain, George Stevens, Frank Capra, Jane Wyatt, Jean Arther and Cher.
More information can be found here:
https://hibbardfamily.com/dee
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1933 - 2026 (93 years)
