Royal C. Rickett

Royal C. Rickett, 86, of Oakesdale, Wash., passed away peacefully on January 23, 2021, when he made the transition to his new home which is "out of this world".

Royal was born June 7, 1934, in Almont, North Dakota, to Warren H. Rickett and Irene L. (Harris) Rickett. The family moved to Lawai, Idaho, in 1944.

Royal graduated from high school in 1953 with basketball scholarships from Boise State, Idaho, and Chico State, Calif., but decided against college and instead went into the automotive industry with his older brother in Durham, Calif. While in Durham, he met Rosemary Carr and the two ran off to Lewiston, Idaho, to marry in 1957. Two years later the couple moved to California where they had two daughters, Cindy and Sharrie. Eventually they moved back to Idaho for a short time and then landed back in California where Royal started Dura-Built Transmissions, a successful automotive repair business.

After living in California for just over 30 years, they sold the business and moved to Oakesdale, Wash., where Royal worked a few more years at the De Semet Native American School in Idaho. He retired after being diagnosed with cancer. After successful treatments for the cancer he went into remission and spent the next almost 16 years enjoying taking trips in his motorhome, and spending time with family and friends until he lost his most recent battle with cancer.

He is survived by two daughters, Cindy (Rickett) Woods of Oakesdale, Wash., and Sharrie (Rickett) Hoy of Carson City, Nevada; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Russell Rickett also of Oakesdale, Wash., Roger Rickett of Modesto, Calif.; two sisters, Betty Cosgrove of Joseph, Ore., and Shirley Marshall of Spokane, Wash.

Due to COVID restrictions a memorial will be planned for a later date.