Santa Cruz

A third generation native Californian, Ann was born in San Francisco on July 28, 1927. Her family relocated to Santa Monica when she was ababy. The oldest of 3children, Ann told many stories about how special her childhood was with her loving parents and siblings, and the excitement of growing up in the early days of Southern California.

After studying at UC Berkeley, she continued her studies at the University of Colorado Boulder where she met Joe Hendricks, her future husband. They married in 1951 and after brief stays in Columbia, MO and Minot, ND they set up household in San Jose, CA. Ann lived there until 2018 when she moved to Santa Cruz.

Ann came from a long line of women entrepreneurs and continued the tradition with several successful businesses. An accomplished seamstress, she started La Casa Leathers in the 1970s, creating beautiful leather garments for exclusive shops.

A lifelong passion for photography led Ann to travel with and attend workshops given by Ansel Adams and other luminaries of the art photography movement. She then opened a photo processing lab specializing in Cibachrome prints which she ran from a shop behind her home.

An avid miniaturist and model maker since childhood, Ann’s third business was La Casa Photos. She traveled around the country selling her miniature photos and accessories at trade shows and was a board member of two miniaturists trade associations. She was loved and admired by many in the industry.

Ann was a wonderful, free-thinking bright spirit who lived life on her terms. She loved travel, opera, classical music, good books and old movies. Ann adored her two daughters, Nellie Heiman and Sally Fox, their spouses, her 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and her niece and nephews. Ann had a lasting impact on their lives and is already deeply missed.

After being blessed with excellent health all her life, Ann died without suffering on February 24, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Helen Reynolds, her husband Joe Hendricks, her brother Chuck Reynolds, her sister Sally Russell, and her daughter Nellie Heiman. She is survived by her daughter Sally Fox.