Mr. Huckabee was such a wonderful character, of course, Emma Jo would have never married anyone dull. Him and Emma Jo took me along with them to Texas back in 73 and I still smile at some of the great times we had.

This is a rememberance (an Email) that I sent to over 50 friend and coworkers of the passing of my long time friend and co worker, Fred Huckabee.  Several of our mutual friends that came to the funeral today thought what I had written was beautiful and right on. The following was what I had written in that Email to inform people about the funeral arrangements, so I am sharing it here for the benefit of his loving family and friends to know how I knew, respected, and loved Fred, a big man amoug men at NTS.

The Email read: There are over 50 names of AEC, ERDA, DOE, and NNSA folks, including some Contractor folks, as addressees to this Email.  Many of you were blessed to know Fred Huckabee from underground testing days at NTS.  He worked for DOE at the Nevada Test Site Support Office (Test Costruction Branch)in the good old days (of big hole drilling for the Underground Testing of Nuclear Weapons).  For those listed as addressees that are the younger folks at work at NTS, you missed out on knowing and working with a special and great guy.
Fred was always up and never down, always positive and never negative, always their when you need help, full of good advice, and never bad advice.  He alwys had a smile on his face, and everyone loved and respected the guy like a brother, even the ladies he worked with over many years at the Site.
He was one of those guys that lived the NTS "Can Do Spirit" and work ethic every day of his life.  He could have been a high flying pilot and soared like an Eagle.  Instead, he was a driller at heart and always turned to the right (a drilling expression for we are making progress), going deep and straight (quality parameters) into the Earth to Total Depth (that is a drillers expression for completing the work, be it drilled hole or landing the last joint of casing in a hole).
He was always their to help and provide expert advice, Drilling or Fishing (fishing is another drilling term when something broke down hole and had to be recovered to continue drilling to TD).  Fred was a valued voice in the drilling and fishing operations arena.  He had solutions, and provided them with an up beat voice of something bigger than just emmense knowledge, optimism, and pride in his work.  He really knew his stuff, i.e., what  could be done, what might work, and what wouldn't.  He was a living history book of drilling experience for NTS.  He new and expeienced everything that had ever been done or tried before, down hole at NTS (he was a reliable source of corporate memory in the development of Big Hole Drilling -something invented at NTS).  
Fred was the most regular of the NTS Old Timers that ever sat at the back table at the DOE Retiree's monthly luncheons at Arizona Charlies on the second Tueday of every month.  He always sat in the same seat, right next to his best buddy Jack Cross (no one would ever think to sit in Fred or Jack's seat - and now we will miss his wonderful company).  Fred will be missed by all that ever knew him.  He was a true and loyal friend and loved by everyone for his kind heat and warm spirit of friendship.
I will miss my long time friend, Fred.


(PS While at the funeral talking among old friends, I was reminded of a fact about Huck.  His word was his bond, everyone had complete trust in "Huck".  Some of you may have had such an experience while shaking the hand of an older gentleman.  One of Fred's old friends, J. Sanders said to me as he held my hand tightly (a hand shake), he said when Fred gave you his word and told you something important, you could count on it, it was a fact, a truth, a  powerful belief that you can trust what he said. Fred had no doubt. He believed in what he said, completely.  You could trust in Fred word and never have a doubt about the man.  He word was a promise.  When you met "Huck" you had a true friend for life.)

I'm so sorry for the sudden loss of your Dad, he was one in a million. I'm thankful to have had contact with him the past several years. He will be missed...
Many prayers for you and your family.

Always a smile, and a helping hand when asked or needed.  He will be missed by many old NTS folks.

A word to Freddy's Daughter, Grandsons and Granddaughter and to his Great Grandchild.
We are so sorry that we were separated so many years by distance but that does not keep us from grieving with you and wishing we were there to comfort each other.
As you know Melissa, Freddy went a long way from his growing up in Brownfield Texas To working for the people that tested the "Atomic bombs" in Nevada. He rose very high from such a humble beginning.

Freddy was so proud of all his kids and was never hesitant to tell you all about them.

GOD Bless you Melissa, our thoughts are with you and always will be.

YOU HAVE MY CONDOLENCE IN THE PASSING OF A DEAR ONE WE ALWAYS ENJOYED CHIT CHAT'S AT THE REUNIONS. THERE WILL BE A  VOID . YOU WILL BE IN OUR THOUGHT'S GOD BLESS JEAN NEAL CLASS OF 1942 BROWNFIELD,TEXAS

I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of my long time friend. My condolences to Melissa and family. He will be missed.

OBITUARY

Freddy "Huck" Huckabee

November 26, 1931 – March 24, 2013

Palm Northwest Mortuary & Cemetery

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