Robin Hood Hickok

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 127 th 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 127 th 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
127 th 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.

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