Wilmot "Bud" Dean Pickrel

Wilmot “Bud” Pickrel passed away, on January 3, 2026, leaving behind a life marked by discipline, hard work, and a deep love for animals—especially horses. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilmot Ray Pickrel and Etha Williamson Pickrel, and by his former wife and the mother of his two sons, Mary Jennings Pickrel.

Bud is survived by his brother, Robert Pickrel; his son, Gary Pickrel; and his son, Guy Pickrel, and daughter-in-law, Terry Umphress Pickrel.

In 1952, Bud graduated from Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School in Monrovia, California, where he distinguished himself as a varsity athlete, lettering in both golf and football. During his teenage years, he spent summers working as a hired man on his maternal grandfather Guy Williamson’s farm, an experience that sparked a lifelong passion for horses and instilled in him the value of steady, purposeful work.

In February 1953, Bud enlisted in the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War. While stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, he married Mary Corene Jennings in July 1954 at the USAF Base Chapel in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was honorably released from active duty in December 1956.

Following his military service, Bud entered the skilled trades, working as a journeyman carpenter with the Teamsters Union. He later attended horseshoeing school and worked as a farrier, further deepening his connection to the equine world. In 1964, he single-handedly built the first home he owned in Carlos, Louisiana. It was there that he established a distributorship for Multi-Products Company, supplying horseshoes, farrier tools, and related materials throughout the eastern United States.

The business relocated to Tyler, Texas, in 1969 and remained in operation until Bud’s retirement in 2015 at the age of 81. Over the decades, he developed strong friendships with customers both locally and across the country. Known for his preference for personal interaction, Bud spent countless hours on the phone, which became his favored method of communication and connection.

Bud and Mary raised two sons—Gary, born in Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1957, and Guy, born in Sierra Madre, California, in 1958. The couple divorced in 1982. Mary later passed away from breast cancer in 2006.

Horses were central to Bud’s life from 1965 onward. What began as pleasure horses for his sons evolved into breeding, raising, and showing AQHA-registered horses, with a particular focus on conformation. He traveled extensively, showing horses in halter classes across Texas and the surrounding states earning points toward championship qualifications. Through the years, Bud made many trips to the annual AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City and the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, the largest single-breed horse show in the world.

Bud also had a lifelong fondness for dogs and dog shows, sharing his life with many breeds over the years, including Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Australian Shepherds, Whippets, and Blue Heelers. He is survived by Beau, his beloved blue heeler and walking companion. In 1982, Bud added another enduring companion to his life, Opie, a double yellow-headed Amazon parrot, who survives him at 43 years old.

Bud was greatly influenced by his experiences working with Grandpa Guy, and one of the things he observed was his daily routine. Guy walked his farm every morning to establish where he would focus the day’s efforts. Bud adopted the habit of a daily walk, a ritual he maintained throughout his life. An avid walker until his final days, he took particular pride in tracking his step count after receiving his first Fitbit in 2018, setting a personal goal of 100,000 steps per week.

Bud was also a devoted sports enthusiast. He loved watching golf, football, tennis, basketball, and the Olympics. In his later years, when he wasn’t walking, he spent his days watching games or listening to sports commentators.

Bud was tenacious about every task, had an excellent work ethic, and knew how to live within his means. He will be remembered for his discipline, self-reliance, and practical wisdom. Quiet by nature and not overtly social, he was deeply appreciated by those who knew him well. He valued face-to-face and phone communication, never adopting texting or online transactions, and often joked that his phone skills helped him “get a better deal” when he called to order his latest pair of shoes.

Bud was most at home among fellow horse enthusiasts. He will be remembered for his knowledge and love of horses, his meticulously maintained yard in Tyler, and his relentless need to be useful and contribute to the enterprise at hand. Bud lived with purpose, consistency, and integrity—values that leave a lasting imprint on those who knew and loved him.

A visitation will be held at Sunset North Funeral Home, located at 910 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232, on January 13, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A committal service will take place at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Shelter #3, located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209, on January 14, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:00 am.