Richard L. Hackett

August 12, 1932 February 19, 2011 Richard "Dick" Hackett passed away peacefully at his hom e on Howe Creek on February 19, 2011. Dick was born in Ferndale, CA, and grew up on the family ranch on Howe Creek. He attended Price Creek School, a one-room elementary school with 18 students, and graduated from Ferndale High in 1951. After obtaining a degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he married his high-school sweetheart, LaVerne Chandler, in 1953. Dick initially worked for Pacific Lumber Co. before starting a career in real estate appraisal for Bank of America, specializing in agriculture and timber, working throughout northern California, as well as on special assignments as a timber specialist throughout the western states and Central America. After retirement from Bank of America in 1988 he established a private appraisal service specializing in agricultural and timber lands, and later worked in partnership with his son Mark. In 1970 Dick and his wife LaVerne purchased the Hackett Ranch from his father and uncle and continued its operation as a sheep and cattle ranch. In 1984 his son Steve joined him in operating the ranch, which has been expanded over the years since to include adjoining and valley bottom land. A lifelong and avid hunter and fisherman, Dick enjoyed hunting for deer, elk, and wildfowl throughout his life, and passed that love along to his sons and grandchildren. He continued a family tradition of seasonal salmon fishing and abalone gathering at Shelter Cove, where he and LaVerne had a second home and hosted many friends and family gatherings there. Dick was deeply involved in his community and ranching and timber industries throughout his life. He served for 8 years on the Ferndale Union High School Board. He was a long-time member of Ferndale Rotary Club and a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. He was on the Boards of Directors of the Humboldt County and California Farm Bureau and Humboldt County and California Wool Growers Association, including President of the Humboldt chapters. He was President of the California Wool Growers Association 1992 -1994, and Second Vice President of the California Farm Bureau in 1989. He also worked on many special commissions and projects related to the ranching and timber industries. In 1991 the California Wool Growers Association named him California Sheepman of the Year, and he was selected by the Ingomar club as 1997 Cattleman of the Year. His greatest love was for his family and he instilled in them his respect for the land, responsibility for his community, and love of active living. His greatest pleasures in later life were his grandchildren, whom he taught to hunt and fish and whose sports activities he and his wife followed closely. Dick is survived by his wife LaVerne, daughter Lynn and husband Raymond Gorman of Prather, CA; son Steve Hackett and wife Jill of Ferndale, daughter-in-law Crystal Hackett of Live Oak, CA; sister Barbara Lowrey and husband Ron; grandchildren Scott Davis and wife Julie, Shawna Smith and husband Steve, Conner Hackett, Joseph Hackett, Tanner Hackett, Markus Hackett, and great grandchildren Abigail and Cassidy Davis, and Samantha Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Merle and Wilma, and son Mark. A visitation for Dick will be held at Goble's Fortuna Mortuary on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. His funeral service will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Ferndale at 1:00 PM on Friday, February 25, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting remembrances be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or Hospice of Humboldt, members of which helped ease Dick's last days, or to the charity of your choice. Please sign the guest book at www.TImes-Standard.com, click obits.