John D. Hickey, 85, of Indiana, passed away on Sunday December 17, 2017, at the Indiana Regional Medical Center.
The son of Patrick D. and Nora Hickey, he was born in 1932 in Gassaway, West Virginia.
He earned a bachelors degree in sociology in 1954 from St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe and served two years in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War. He attended graduate school at St. Louis University, Missouri, from 1957-1960. It was there that he became interested in a career in mental health services. John Hickey served as the first executive director of the Armstrong Indiana Mental Health and Mental Retardation program. He started retirement after a 36 year career as an advocate and a developer of programs and services for people affiliated with mental disorder.
A native of Gassaway, West VA, a small railroad town in the hills of West VA, John moved to Indiana in 1962 to serve as director of the Indiana County Guidance Center, which provides psychological counseling and other services.
He was named director of Armstrong-Indiana MHMR in Feb. 1969 which was the first government funded program to provide services for people with mental disabilities outside of state hospitals and other state treatment centers. As administrator, he was responsible for reviewing and recommending contracts with agencies, securing funding and overseeing the many services provided through the MHMR program. At that time the program served more than 3000 residents each month in the two counties.
At public meetings, he was known to be a quiet patient leader in promoting and answering questions about the need to expand the MHMR services in the two counties. He always emphasized the importance of the services being provided, rather than his role in developing these programs.
He had the love and spirit of West VA in his heart, a warm compassionate nature, a great listener who dedicated his life and passion in bringing the best fundamental services that would strengthen and uphold the dignity of the mentally ill.
His love for God, family and country were always foremost in his mind and as once quoted in an article “… because of John Hickey, Indiana County is a better place to live.”
John was a member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic church, where he served two terms on the St. Bernard’s parish council, and a long term member of St. Bernard’s adult choir, a board member of St. Vincent DePaul Society and a board member of ICW Vocational services and past president of Indiana County Birthrite. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 50 years, former member of the Indiana Midday Rotary, Indiana Head Start board, Indiana county Blind Association, a charter member of Indiana Big Brothers and Big Sisters program and a US Census Bureau enumerator for two Decennial Censuses. He also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the Red Cross blood program, and St. Vincent DePaul. John was an active member and past president of the Indiana ballroom dance club.
Surviving are his loving wife of 59 years Mary Lou (Williamee) Hickey, daughters Linda M. Morris (Jim) of Delmont, Mary Kay Brown (David) of Huntersville, North Carolina, Cathy A. Murray (Bob) of Plymouth, MA, and Chrissy L. Milliken of North Beach, MD., six adoring grandchildren, Emily M. and Andrea M. Morris, Brennen P. and, Kyle D. Brown, Erin E. and Caliann C. Murray, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2 to 6 P.M. at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, Indiana. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 A.M. at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Indiana. Private interment will be made in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in St. Marys, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to Indiana County Workshop Vocational Services, 155 North 10th St., Indiana, PA 15701. Military honors will be provided by the VFW Post 1989 at St. Bernard Church.
