Raymond M. Sickles

Friday, August 14, 1998

Raymond M. Sickles

Conservationist retired from Game Commission
Raymond M. Sickles, 84, of 13866 South Norrisville Road, Meadville, formerly of Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, died Tuesday, August 4, 1998.

He was born February 15, 1914, a son of Thomas W. and Roseann Anderson Sickles.
Mr. Sickles retired from the Pennsylvania Game Commission in 1979 after 43 years of service. He was a charter member of the Future Farmers of America at Hickory High School, now Fort Cherry High School.
His career began in 1937 when he was selected for the second class of Ross Leffler School of Conservation near Brockway. By 1939, he had been assigned as a game protector to the Pymatuning Area, where he remained for his entire career.
After arriving, he began to visualize the concept of a controlled hunting area. He received permission from the commission to plan, develop and manage what is now known as the Pymatuning Waterfowl Management Area near Hartstown.
He was the instrumental force in establishing the Pymatuning Chapters of Ducks Unlimited, the Linesville Waterfowl Expo and the Sportsman's Youth Conservation School.
Throughout his life, he received many awards for his work in conservation, including the Nash Conservation Award, the first state chapter Ducks Unlimited Award given by National Ducks Unlimited Inc. and the Outstanding Professional Conservationist of the Year award given by the Outdoor Writers of Pennsylvania.
In 1976, he was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame for his success in waterfowl management. He was awarded lifetime membership in many sportsmen's clubs, waterfowl clubs, retriever clubs and FFA chapters. He was honored with an inscribed plaque and monument at the headquarters of the Pymatuning Waterfowl Management Area as a permanent recognition of his contributions.
He was a past officer in Linesville Rotary Club and Lakeland Area Senior Citizens Center. He served on the Governor's Council for Active Aging Inc. and was a member of the local PARE Chapter.
He was a member of First Baptist Church in Linesville and Pine Masonic Lodge 498 in Linesville.
On January 31, 1941, in Linesville, he married Vera Jones, who survives.
Also surviving are three daughters, Nancy Hamilton, Linda Robel and Lori Sickles, all of Conneaut Lake; three sons, Richard Sickles of Linesville, and Robert Sickles and Mark Sickles, both of Conneaut Lake; one sister, Ruth Rumbaugh of Midway; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Deceased are two sisters and five brothers.
Services were held August 7 with the Rev. Art Barnes and the Rev. Tom Seiple of Linesville Baptist Church officiating. Burial was in Linesville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Conneaut Lake All-Sports Boosters, in care of Bill McGee, P.O. Box 28, Conneaut Lake, Pa. 16316; or Linesville All-Sports Boosters, in care of John Acklin, 302 West School Drive, Linesville, Pa. 16424.