Michael Roy Pickering

After spending a day filled with family, welcomed rain, a Texas Longhorn victory, and his great-grandson’s Halloween candy, “Mike Mike” passed away peacefully in his recliner overlooking the Horseshoe Bay golf course.

Michael Roy Pickering was born in 1937 and passed away on November 2, 2025. A native Houstonian, Mike attended Poe Elementary, Lanier Junior High, and Lamar High School. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a proud, wild member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Mary Ann Nowlin and Mike married in 1957. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1961, earning the third-highest score on the State bar exam.

Mike and Mary Ann moved back to Houston, where he practiced law for decades. Mike and Mary Ann enjoyed hosting pool and dinner parties for their friends and Mike’s clients. They loved boating on Lake Travis and spending time at their vacation home in Lakeway. In 2000, they moved to Horseshoe Bay to be closer to their only grandchild, Meryll Mabray Hodson. Mike Mike and Mary Ann, “Gagy”, were a constant presence at Meryll’s many activities. Meryll was the joy of their lives until she was lovingly supplanted by the birth of her sons, Brooks and Barrett Hodson.

Since the 1960s, Mike and his family enjoyed hunting, fishing, gatoring, and spinning yarns around the campfire on the 990 Ranch in Pearsall. The many Pickering dogs were always a focal point of their lives.

Mike was predeceased by his parents, O-Ed and Roy Pickering of Burnet. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Ann; his daughters, Cheryll Pickering Mabray and husband, Wynn, and Carrie Pickering and husband, Dave Antel; his granddaughter, Meryll Mabray Hodson, and husband, Ryan; great-grandsons, Brooks and Barrett Hodson; and his sister, Martha Pickering, and her family.

The Pickering family would like to thank and honor “Picks’ Partners”: Mitch Riley, David Moore, Jim Westmoreland, Burt Holdsworth, Malcolm Baker, Joe Cohen, Tom Estes, Wayne Hull, and Randy Lee. In his last few months, Mike was blessed with the support of Jackie Hoskin and the unwavering care of Nancy Everist.

Mike’s Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025, at The Church at Horseshoe Bay. Because Mike deeply cared deeply about his faith and furry friends, the family requests donations be made in his honor to: The Church at Horseshoe Bay, P.O. Box 8295, Horseshoe Bay, Texas 78657 or to any local animal rescue/humane organization in the Highland Lakes/Llano area.