Richard Lee Hiskett

On May 3rd, 1953 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Richard Lee Hiskett received the best gift of his life when he was born to his parents Opha and Roy Grant Hiskett. They were his heroes and like them he sprang into action when heroism was needed by using his emergency response training to save a stranger's life. His parents preceded Rick in death as did infant siblings Charlyne and Robert, and sister Sandra Hudson. Rick died on July 26th, 2023 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Simeon's and Miller Hospice who gave loving care to our brother. Rick attended Immaculate Conception grade school. He spent 9th grade at Horace Mann Jr. High where he was chosen December's Boy of the Month. At Central High School, class of 1971, Rick lettered in swimming and played varsity football. He was active in baseball, basketball, track and field, tennis, wrestling, ping pong, handball, racquetball, water polo, and golf. Rick worked summers and through college to pay for his education. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Business Administration in 1975. In Tulsa he was an auditor with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. In San Francisco he worked as Methods and Procedures System Analyst. He was part of the elite team selected to plan and manage the pipeline portion of the Trans Alaska Project. He worked for Alyeska Pipeline Service, Standard Alaska Production, SOHIO, and BP as Budgets and Control Supervisor, and as Accounting Supervisor. He worked as Business Development Manager with APC, Inc. Rick bought his first home in Anchorage, Alaska, and owned a condo in Girdwood, Alaska, at the base of the Alyeska ski resort. He became an avid skier who enjoyed skiing some of the great mountains in America and Europe, and uncharted mountains in New Zealand. He cross country skied, hiked, and biked into the Alaskan wilderness including camping adventures on Denali. On the job, he lived in the Happy Valley encampment 80 miles South of Prudhoe Bay. On the North Slope, he lived in the Prudhoe and Endicott facilities. While there, he took the Polar Bear plunges in the Artic Ocean. Rick purchased a home outside Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. During one ocean swim, a grey humpback whale swam alongside him. The next day she brought her baby to swim with Rick. Rick enjoyed driving sporty cars, playing games, listening to music, dancing, and joking around with family and friends. His hobbies were travel, photography, and astronomy. From the Northern Lights to the Blue Pop, Rick appreciated the gift of life. Rick quit his last job in the mid 1990's to return to Tulsa to help the family at his mother's request. He joined the Tulsa Ski Club and won NASTAR medals. He umpired girl's softball games and was selected to umpire ASA and AFA National Championships. He helped care for the parents of Tere Gorraez in Cabo. Rick and Tere spent many happy days together in Mexico and Oklahoma. Rick returned to Tulsa one last time for his own care in 2015. Rick brought us happiness. He enriched our lives. "He was a joyful, stable presence." "He made us laugh with his contagious silliness." "He showed what true strength, unconditional love, and sacrifice look like in a family." He is greatly missed, always loved, and will never be forgotten. He is survived by brothers Roy Dean Hiskett (Beverly), Michael Hiskett (Jane), and John Hiskett, and by his sister Diana Frost (Andrew), and by brother in-law Steve Hudson. He is survived by nieces and nephews who have great memories of doing exciting, fun things and "roughhousing" with Uncle Rick. They are in birth order Heather Hudson, Hannah Sanford, Jesse Hiskett, Lucy McCann, Karen Morris, Jackie Bull, and Ricky Hudson. On October 6th, 2023 family and friends will gather at the Hiskett site in Calvary Cemetery at 2:00 for the burial of cremains. We will proceed to the Family Center of Fitzgerald's Funeral Home to celebrate the life of Richard L. Hiskett until 5:00. Both places are at 91st and Harvard. To honor Rick, smile and make others smile.

Richard Lee Hiskett

May 3, 1953 - July 26, 2023