John M. Pickett

Dr. John M. Pickett passed peacefully from this earth on September 12, 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 Corp, and the Boy Scouts of America. John attended Westminster College in Fulton, MS, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School as a captain in the Army Medical Corp. 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.