Sara D Pickard

Sara Brock Duckett Pickard, of Charlotte, passed away Monday, May 30, 2011 at Southminster. She was born on January 5, 1915 to the late Lourene Brock Duckett and Samuel Levi Duckett in Spartanburg, SC, the eldest of five children.

Mrs. Pickard attended Duke University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She married her childhood sweetheart, John David Pickard on April 30, 1938. They had two children and eventually settled in Charlotte.

Sara worked during the war effort, and used her degree in chemistry to invent cotton leather. She shares a patent for this with Howard Snow and Southern Friction Materials Company. This invention was used to help make soles for the boots of the US soldiers in WWII.

After the war, she retired from employment outside the home, and focused on raising her daughters and continuing her hobbies of gardening, reading, and studying butterflies. She spent a great deal of time enjoying the beauty of nature in Boone, NC.

She is preceded in death by her husband, and her children, Ann Pickard Kalat and Sallie Pickard Page. She is also predeceased by her siblings, Thomas Duckett, Sammie Elliott, Margaret Bixler and Dorothy Pike.

Mrs. Pickard is survived by her grandchildren, Sara Page Krome, David Paul Kalat (Julie Stapel), Marjorie Page Transou (Kevin Transou), Samuel Edward Kalat (Sheila Denn) and Robin Kalat Floyd (Richard Floyd). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Harrison Krome, Ann Stapel-Kalat, Rachel Krome, Maxwell Stapel-Kalat, William Floyd, and Ophelia Floyd.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at The Chapel at Southminster, 8919 Park Rd. Charlotte, where the family will receive friends following the service.