Ryan Edward Hackett, our most beloved son, brother, family member and friend passed away suddenly on Jan 1, 2021, from a tragic firearm accident.

Ryan will be missed everyday by his father Ed Hackett (and Leslie Helman), his mother Melissa (and Mark Mcclure), sister Danielle, nephews Trenton and Braiden Fisher, Emily Winkler, step siblings Ashley and Chris McClure, Craig and Sarah Helman, grandmother Misako Martin, aunt and uncle Lloyd and Tracy Hackett and cousins Jessica Hedden, Kurtis Hackett and Amanda Hackett, Jakob Flowers, and other family members and friends.

He was perhaps most well known for his love of football where the West Vigo Vikings nicknamed him “Rhino” and his passion for baseball where he was catcher for the Prairie Creek Outlaws. Boy, did he have some wingmen there. The team was inseparable, with awesome Outlaws Austin Harlan, Ben Coleman, Wyatt Lowe, and Chris McClure rounding out the group.

Ryan was committed to friendship. He cemented relationships with hundreds of friends. His closest buddies were Rodney Sullivan and Nick Eaton; together they were the “three amigos”. Like a wolf pack or a band of brothers, the trio stuck together through thick and thin, making unforgettable memories through their many exploits.

Ryan never met a person he didn’t like (unless you were that one guy). We can thank his comrades in West T, Garrett Ray and Isaac Boatman for that. The camaraderie between Ryan and his many friends was palpable — they stood together, had each other’s backs, and fought for what they believed.

Everyone who knew Ryan knew he was the life of the party. Not just with his friends, but his infectious personality brushed off on their parents too. It wasn’t unusual to see him and Mr. Eaton playing air guitar and belting out songs together, Motley Crue being at top of the list.

He was the first to pet every dog he met, however, the same could not be said about cats. But he kept his dislike for felines hidden around his cat-loving mother because she frequently fed him his favorite foods, steak and apple pie. His only complaints were her meatless meals, which he called “fake news.”

Above all, he loved his family — and showed his affection with great big bear hugs. His sister Danielle and nephews Trenton and Braiden (who he referred to as “the boys”) meant the world to him. Besides the constant roughhousing, he made sure that their moral fibers were enriched by the same things he loved, the Dallas Cowboys and the NC Tar Heels.

When the sun went down, he spent countless hours having long talks about life, music, and politics with his friend Mark Mcclure. He had a deep conviction about supporting disabled veterans, and displayed it proudly on his clothing.

What would mean most to Ryan is to see his family and friends come together in his honor. Everybody has a story and we’d love to hear them all.

Ryan faced his death and his mortality, as he did with his life, “live as if today was your last day”. The family is forever in debt to his best friend Rodney Sullivan, Nick Eaton and their parents for a life long friendship that will never be forgotten. Jeff Slaven, we couldn’t have done it without you.

If you feel the need to honor his memory, donations may be mailed to: Loyal Veterans Battalion, 1000 South 14th St. Terre Haute, Indiana 47802, https://m.facebook.com/LoyalVeteransBattalion/ . Please note: In memory of Ryan Hackett.

The arrangements for a celebration of life at Ed and Leslie’s lake property (where Ryan loved to fish) will be announced at a later date, close to his birthday in May. We encourage you to wear your most “Ryan themed” jersey or t-shirt. Prepare to come with an appetite, because he felt no get-together was complete without food (and of course, meat!).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ryan Edward Hackett, please visit our floral store.