Herbert "Herb" Gerald Haycook

   Herbert "Herb" Gerald Haycook, 78, passed away at his home in Mt. Pleasant, SC on September 20, 2025. He was born September 27, 1946 in Paterson, New Jersey, son of Jean Margaret O’Brien and Herbert Joseph Haycook, Jr.

   Herb attended William Paterson University as a business major. He joined officers training school for the Navy but was medically discharged from training camp after an injury and told that he wouldn’t walk again. Never one to back down from a challenge, Herb rehabilitated himself, walking to work on crutches until he could walk independently again. Over the course of his 50+ year career, he worked his way up to the role of Infrastructure Coordinator at Sun Chemical Co. and demonstrated the importance of hard work.

   Whether it was white water rafting or riding to Woodstock through the mud and rain on the back of a friend’s motorcycle, Herb was always up for adventure. He was intelligent, funny, resilient, hard-working, and kind.

   Herb met his wife, Lisa, in 1975 and they were married in January 1976.

   At the age of 38, Herb became a father for the first time with the birth of his daughter, Jennifer. A devoted father, Herb could often be found reading the Sunday comics to Jennifer and sharing sips of his coffee. Nine years later, his son, Christopher, was born and he shared his love of fishing with him, teaching him to throw a cast net under the pier at Isle of Palms. Even as his children grew older, Herb continued to find ways to connect with them, be it a spur of the moment Halloween costume complete with a wig so that he could go trick-or-treating with them or joining in the annual Easter egg hunt with a gigantic basket.

    Every morning, Herb could be found sitting at the kitchen table with his coffee and newspaper, either reading or doing the crossword puzzle with his dictionary at the ready. An avid fisherman, he spent many days at the neighborhood pond reeling in fish of all kinds. If he wasn’t talking about fishing or the Gamecocks, it was the various types of birds that he fed in his yard. However, Herb’s greatest source of joy and pride in life was his family, who he loved deeply. He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Lisa Haycook, daughter, Jennifer Storey (Ryan), son, Christopher Haycook (Margaret), granddaughter, Madison, grandson, Liam, and sister, Sheri Felber (Richard).

   In keeping with his wishes, there will be no formal services, but a celebration of life for immediate family.