Lynden and I were teenage friends and I will also remember the night he and I, along with our good friend Alline Carey were taken from the protracted meeting at the Slate Hill Church of Christ and baptized in the clear waters of Minnow Creek in the same neighborhood. The next week his cousin Ray Willis followed suit, and the next Sunday someone memorialized the event in this picture of the four of us.  We later double dated (for he had access to the family 1939 Chevy) neither of us married the girls we were dating.  My brother and I made the trip with the family to Detroit later to work during the summer.  It was years later, when we were grandparents, that we got reacquainted.  I will always remember him and the kindness his parents and extended family always showed me.

About a year ago, I picked up the phone and a male voice said, "Hello, is this JD Cash?"  I said yes, who's calling? The voice said, "JD, this is Lynden Hickey."  It had been too many years since I had heard those kind tones.  Old memories came flooding back. When I heard that he had died Sunday, the flood rushed back in again.  In 1952, Lyn was a senior at Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan and I was a sophomore; he befriended me and became almost a mentor to me.  We lived just a little way from each other, and it seemed wherever he'd go anywhere around town, he'd pick me up in his maroon Chevy Fleetwood with the sun visor, we'd travel all over Detroit. We’d drive to church activities, errands, softball games and baseball games (he was a natural infield athlete—I was always in right field).  Neither of us had girlfriends at the time and we'd sit together at church.  When we made Wednesday night talks, we'd compete to see how many minutes we could last.  Without question, he was closer to me than any friend I ever had.  He was always there with advice if I wanted it and I often did. It seemed to me that Lynden always knew where he was going in life, as if there was some giant magnet out there somewhere that was pulling him toward itself. That was true concerning his work; it was absolutely true concerning his God.  When my sister-like cousin, Joann, came up to Detroit from Abilene, where she'd been in college, who should I introduce her to?  So, Lyn and I didn't sit together at church anymore. He was always interested in my work as a preacher, and was instrumental in getting Lorrie and me near to where he and Joann were in Texas.  He always opened his heart and home to me and mine.  He is now with our Lord and with our beloved Joann, and our families.  Nothing else matters nearly so much as to meet them there.   JD Cash 

First, my condolences to Jodie and Leatha -- and the rest of the family. 
I first met Lyn in 1954 when I went to Detroit to work during the summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years at Harding College ("College" in those days). It was a joy to be among so many there who were so warm, friendly, and encouraging. 
Two events stand out with Lyn during that summer.  He, J.D. Cash, and I made a quick trip to Niagara Falls -- a memorable experience. Then I went with him to my first professional baseball game -- a double-header between Detroit and Cleveland. 
It was always a joy to connect up with him and JoAnn occasionally through the years -- all too infrequently, I might add. Lyn, you are loved and appreciated. Thank you for all of your kindnesses shown to me.

OBITUARY

R. Lynden Hickey Jr.

August 21, 1934 – August 11, 2019

Memorial Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery

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