Valley native always eager to volunteer

A descendent of among the oldest families in Carson Valley, Shannon Colinee Hickey, died Sunday.

Born April 5, 1967, to Dan and Laurie Hickey, at Barton Memorial Hospital at Lake Tahoe, she was the great-grandchild of East Fork Justice of the Peace James E. Hickey.

On her mother’s side she is descended from the Allerman family.

Hickey grew up on the Laura Springs Ranch where she learned to ride a horse at an early age. Hickey was a longtime member of the Carson Valley Chapter of FFA. She received the award for best senior working cowgirl in the 1985 Carson Valley Days Parade.

She was a volunteer for the Douglas County Historical Society participating in the organization of several events, including the Curse of the Hanging Tree in Genoa.

She was an early member of the Greater Genoa Business Association and helped establish the Genoa Walking Tour. She and her mother Laurie operated Heritage Tours in the 1990s.

She was a veteran candymaker for the Genoa Candy Dance.

Hickey was one of the people responsible for Carson Valley Community Theater’s return to Gardnerville in 2004. She and Brooke Penzel co-directed the group’s debut play “Nurseryland.”

She served as president of the group that was lauded for bringing the actors back to Minden after almost two decades.

She either performed or helped coordinate the cemetery tours conducted each year.

Hickey was recognized for her volunteer work with Mainstreet Gardnerville.

As an employee of “A Wildflower” she was credited with suggesting coffin races as an event at Heritage Park.

Fellow volunteer Scott Bergan said she was at every promotion committee meeting and event.

“She was here from the beginning volunteering alongside her mother Laurie,” he said.

She is survived by her mother Laurie and brother Troy.

She is preceded in death by her father Danny on Dec. 11, 2018.