Doris Hodges Pickett

The joyful sound is the angels singing as they welcome another gentle soul to their arms. Another angel rises to Heaven as Doris Pickett has taken leave of this earth on Monday, March 2 in San Antonio. She was born Doris Marion Hodges to Troy M. and Charlotte Carter Hodges on November 21, 1921 in Jourdanton, TX.

She and her sisters had a loving family and a simple upbringing, based on mutual respect. She graduated from Jourdanton High School in 1938 and attended Southwestern State University in Georgetown, TX for 2 years. She then took a position at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio to do her part in the effort for WWII.

There she met the love of her life, Captain John M. Pickett, MD who would become her life mate. Doris and John were married on March 20, 1946 and after he returned from the Occupation of Japan, they moved to Amarillo, TX to start a family and medical practice. Doris realized her calling, as many do, by devoting herself to the care of her family.

She was a gentle, devoted soul, full of love, warmth and understanding and she cared for strangers in the same manner that she cared for her family. She always gave generously of her time and talents to all whether it be family, friend or organization.

Doris was a woman of many interests. She loved to cook for her family and every meal was delicious and from scratch! She had a great sense of flavors, she blended them well and she could always get that piecrust just right. She loved art and her tastes extended from western artwork by Kenneth Wyatt, to landscapes by Whitehead; from media art by Daryl Howard, to contemporary by Charles Bunnell.

She was a Docent at the Amarillo Art Center for many years and enjoyed traveling to and attending Docent programs. Doris was accomplished in the garden. She planted a flower garden every year in Amarillo and she also loved to grow and can fresh vegetables for the winter. She made sure her kids also knew how to make applesauce, iron a shirt and help with the chores. One of her comforts was her belief in God and the Christian fellowship that she and John enjoyed in the Homebuilders Class at Polk Street United Methodist Church was very important to her.

She made sure that the entire family was in Sunday School and Church every Sunday and that each child was properly dressed and coifed! Doris also gave many years of service to the Potter County Medical Auxiliary and to her PEO sisterhood.

She and John raised four children and she is survived by John, her son John Pickett, Jr. and wife Janie of Irving, TX, son, Steve Pickett and wife Elaine of Austin, TX, daughter Judy Jones and husband Wilber of Clovis, NM and daughter Carol Baugh and husband Bobby of San Antonio. She is survived by her 11 grandchildren, Elizabeth Schuessler (Greg), John Pickett, III (Mary Francis), Wilber Jones, Jr (Donnelle), Adrianne Jones, Clay Jones, Melanie, Michael and Monica Pickett and Beverly, Barbara and Sam Baugh. Three great grandchildren, David, Hannah and Tate also survive. She is pre-deceased by her parents and sisters, Patricia Kempher and Glenn Roberts. She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Carmody of Buffalo, NY and several nieces and nephews.