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ENGLEWOOD — The identity of Patricia Peck's assailant remains unknown.

What is known is the love and respect her colleagues and clients had for the 62-year-old hairdresser, the victim of an apparent homicide in February.

"When she died, there was no insurance. There was no money we could access," said Peck's longtime friend and colleague Fran Groh.

Groh reached out to fellow hairdressers to come up with $1,700 needed for a memorial service and viewing for Peck.

"One of our good clients gave $700," she said. "It was so neat. We all used to work together. ...

"When I asked, our fellow hairdressers stepped up."

"It was really awesome that we could help," said Renee Thomas at Parkside Salon in Englewood. "I called everyone I could think of. By the next day, we'd raised about one-third of the money."

The March memorial service was part reunion for Peck's friends, many of whom hadn't seen each other in years, said Thomas, who had attended beauty school with Peck and Groh, and worked with Peck for six years.

Peck was reported missing in late February after she did not show up for work at the North Dixie Drive hair salon she co-owned.

Two weeks later, her SUV was spotted by a client in the parking lot of the Dayton Airport Hotel at the Dayton International Airport. Inside was the body of the Clayton woman.

Her death has been ruled a homicide. Dayton police said the investigation is continuing.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.