<::taps::> Dr. John M. Pickett, post-WWII veteran, Joplin MO-area D&B Corps
Catherine
2009, surrounded by loving family and friends. He had been living in
San Antonio, Texas since March of 2007.
John, the youngest child of Frank J. and Eula Kirby Pickett, was born
in Galena, Kansas on June 21, 1917. The family lived in Galena until
John was 9 years old and then moved to Joplin, Missouri in 1926.
As a youth, John was active in the Methodist church, the YMCA,
Methodist Youth Fellowship, the Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Boy
Scouts of America.
John attended Westminster College in Fulton, Mississippi, where he was
a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He graduated from Vanderbilt
Medical School as a captain in the Army Medical Corps. He served a
tour of duty in Japan during the Post-War Occupation, then returned to
the United States and was accepted as a resident at Texas Children's
Hospital in Houston, Texas.
While training at Fort Sam Houston prior to leaving for Japan, John
met the love of his life, Doris Marion Hodges. It was a true case of
love at first sight. They were married after a whirlwind six-week
courtship. The marriage lasted 62 years until her death on March 2,
2009.
John and Doris made their home in Amarillo, Texas where he had a busy
pediatric practice for 45 years. He was a well-respected and very
active member of the community. John served as president of the Texas
State Pediatric Society, Chief of Staff of Northwest Texas Hospital of
Amarillo, President of the Potter-Randall County Medical Society, and
received many other awards and recognitions.
Family members who have passed before include his parents; brother,
Frank; sister, Sarah and her husband, Harry B. Richardson of Bowling
Green, Kentucky. John is survived by his children and their families,
John M. Pickett, Jr. and wife, Janie of Boerne, Texas, Steven H.
Pickett and wife, Elaine of Austin, Texas, Judith Pickett Jones and
husband, Wilber of Clovis, New Mexico, Carol Pickett Baugh and
husband, Bobby of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Elizabeth Pickett
Shuessler and husband, Greg of St Louis, Missouri, John M. Pickett,
III and wife, Mary Frances of Birmingham, Alabama, Melanie, Michael,
and Monica Pickett, all of Austin, Texas, Wil Jones and wife,
Donnelle of Clovis, New Mexico, Adrianne Jones of Amarillo, Texas,
Clay Jones of Tacoma, Washington, and Beverly, Barbara, and Sam Baugh
of San Antonio, Texas; great-grandchildren, David and Grant Pickett of
Birmingham, Alabama and Hanna and Tate Jones of Clovis, New Mexico. He
is also survived by Frank's wife, Bonnie Pickett of Bozeman, Montana
and Doris' sister, Elizabeth Carmody of Kenmore, New York.
The family would like to thank Margie Benavides, Arturo, Seth, Rosie,
Maria, Laura and the rest of the team for their loving care,
attention, and respect in support of John and Doris. You enriched
their lives in immeasurable ways and made it possible for them to live
with dignity in their final days.
Interment will be a private ceremony at Fort Sam Houston in San
Antonio, Texas on Friday, September 18, 2009. A memorial celebrating
the lives of both John and Doris Pickett will be held at Polk Street
United Methodist, 1401 S. Polk Street, Amarillo, Texas 79101 on
October 24, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. The family asks that gifts and
memorials be directed to the children's charity of your choice.
You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.porterloring.com
Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary 1101 McCullough, (210)
227-8221 San Antonio, TX.
Published in Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from
September 17 to September 18, 2009