HICKMAN, Robert Ray - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The body of Robert Ray Hickman 42 Fountain County farmer, was identified at Palestine Illinois Sunday by Deputy Sherriff George Cruea, Gail Coffing and John Slazas. The body was discovered in the Wabash river near Palestine by four Terre Haute boy scouts enroute down river to Vincinnes on Sunday. Mr. Hickman was reported seen last on December 6 by Shawnee Township trustee Finney Stucker. Five days later his absence was called to the attention of County authorities by Covington mailman, Herbert Parret when it became impossible to put any more mail in the Hickman mail box. His investigation showed no one at home. The body was found approximately 90 miles downstream from the Hickman farm, which is two miles south of Portland Arch. A Crawfords County Illinois Coroner's jury ruled death was due to accidental drowning. Mr. Hickman who never married was born August 16, 1915, the son of Ray and Dessie Butler Hickman. A sister, Mrs. Gail Coffing and several nieces and nephews survive. He died March 29, 1958. Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Bondine and Shelby funeral home. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery.