The following is an obituary submitted to our sponsor, Pioneer Memorial Services of Moses Lake.
Robin Hood Hickok was born to Robert Hood Hickok and Phyllis Marcelline (Phillips) Hickok on October 23, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska. At the age of five, Robin, his two younger sisters, and parents moved to Washington State, relocating to Mountlake Terrace, WA. Robin grew up fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and exploring, and despite his busy outdoor schedule, graduated from Mountlake Terrace High School in 1965.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Robin was drafted into the US Army and served in Qui Nhon, Vietnam with the 127th MP Company. Until 1999, Robin’s wartime service was rarely discussed, with only a few pictures shown and brief stories told. Following attending the first 127th MP Reunion, Robin spent the next 25 years processing that period of his time at the annual gatherings, reconnecting with fellow servicemen, and sharing stories with his family. In 2019, Robin went back to Vietnam, a cathartic and healing trip where he remembered the beauty of the people and the landscape, and the tragedy of war.
Returning from Vietnam, Robin enrolled at Everett Community College, where he met classmate Susan Helaas. Robin (jokingly) always said that he knew he was going to marry Susan, and dating was expensive, so their courtship was rather short, marrying on May 10, 1969. Robin and Susan transferred to Washington State University to complete their undergraduate degrees, and Robin went on to complete a Master of Arts in Police Science and Administration. While attending WSU on the GI Bill, Robin and Susan lived in the small town of Union Town, WA, where they were members of “the Club,” hunted pheasant and deer for food, and Robin was a local Boy Scout leader. These small town friendships, especially with the Kinonen family, memories of hunting in the Palouse and Steptoe Canyon, and the birth of their first daughter, Jennifer Robin, forged deep memories and friendships to last a lifetime.
Robin graduated from WSU, and the young family moved to Edmonds, WA, where Robin began a 28-year career with the Edmonds Police Department. Early in his career, the family welcomed daughter Kristina and then son Mark. Through the years, Robin worked every shift, held most roles, especially enjoying the role of detective, and finished his career as Chief of Police. For many years, Robin was involved in the Edmond’s Exchange Club, pioneered the DARE program in Washington State with Edmonds’ youth, led the South Snohomish County SWAT team, and earned many more professional accolades in modern police work. The highlight of his career was the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 1985. Dinnertime conversations at the Hickok House were much more colorful than most homes, as Robin enjoyed sharing about his days and nights.
Despite a grueling career, Robin still made time for hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking with his family, generally accompanied by friends, dogs, and Louis L’Amour books. Along with his dad, Robin was a charter member of the Washington Duck Hunters Association, later called the Washington Waterfowl Association.
After retirement, Robin and Susan relocated from their Eastmont home in Everett, WA to live lakeside in Moses Lake, WA. They were seeking a community where they could be involved, Robin could fish and hunt, and Susan could finish her teaching career. Instantly, Robin became involved in everything from the Moses Lake Lions Club, various fishing clubs, a prominent member of the morning coffee gang at the Hangout, and more. He was always up for a hunting or fishing adventure with friends, former colleagues, son Mark, son-in-law Matt, and his four grandsons, Micah, Eli, Liam, and Sawyer. Granddaughters Sloane and Mabel joined the family, adding to fishing and boating adventures with Grandpa.
Susan and Robin began their adventures of international travel in 2015, filling two passports. Trips to Norway, England, Ireland, Scotland, then cruises through the Amazon, around Africa, Asia, and the Mekong River. Although Parkinson's dementia shadowed some of the trips, Robin spent hours poring over the photobooks from his time abroad. Visits to grandkids, attending sports events and dance recitals, attending 127th reunions, working in the yard on the ever-present challenges of the irrigation system, mowing, and taking the party barge out on the lake filled Robin’s days at home.
Over the past 11 months, Robin showed grace, humility, kindness, and a loving nature despite many horrible health challenges and a rapid physical decline. He was happy being in the company of his family, visits from friends, staring off at the lake, and watching the fish jump, the ducks swim, with the sweet companionship of his faithful dog, Ginger.
The Hickok family would like to thank Hospice of Grant County and caregiver Aleaha McKee-Matthews for her devoted companionship and care. Robin passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife, Susan, and children Jennifer, Kristina, and Mark, and sister Colleen. He is survived by Susan (Helaas) Hickok, Jennifer Hickok (Brian Sargee), Kristina Daheim (Matt Daheim), and Mark Hickok (Heather Hickok), and grandchildren Micah, Eli, and Liam Daheim, Sawyer Hickok-Sargee, and Sloane and Mabel Hickok, as well as sisters Colleen Halgren and Candy Hutto (Tom), cousins, and many more friends who were like family. In lieu of gifts and flowers, please make donations in honor of Robin Hickok to the Moses Lake Lions. These gifts will help support his favorite local charities.
This was a Pioneer Memorial Services obituary. Pioneer Memorial Services provides a comprehensive suite of exceptionally affordable offerings designed to honor and memorialize your departed loved ones. Pioneer's services encompass everything from arranging funerals, securing burial sites and cemetery plots, to selecting headstones, facilitating cremations, and publishing obituaries. For further details on how we can support you during this time, please explore their website at pioneermemorialgardens.com or reach out to them directly at 509.766.0191.