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Herbert Ricks Pickett

Posted 2008-01-02 by Pat Wilson
The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona
June 16, 2004

Herbert Ricks Pickett, 84, of Casa Grande, Arizona, passed away on June 2, 2004. He was born in Amite County, near Liberty, Mississippi, on October 16, 1919, to Linton and Edna BURR PICKETT.

Herbert's family lived in Laurel, Mississippi and later moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

He was active in football while attending Baton Rouge High School and while attending Louisiana State University.

Herbert enlisted in the army in 1941 after one year of college at LSU. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia and then at Camp Shelby in Mississippi until he was shipped overseas in 1944 to fight in World War II. He was in the 69th Infantry Division of the Army which fought primarily in Germany. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was involved in the capture of Leipzig, Germany, and was the first American officer to enter the Buchenwald Concentration Camp at the end of the war. By the end of his military career, he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

At the end of the WWII, he settled in Tempe, Arizona and graduated in 1950 from Arizona State University with a degree in Business. He was called back into active duty to train soldiers at Fort Ord, California for the Korean Conflict.

He worked for 35 years for Crystal Ice and Cold Storage Company in Phoenix, Arizona. He was very active in the Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow for many years.

Herbert started a business named Pro Cool where he did cooling and shipping of vegetables in Montrose, Colorado and Wilcox and Picacho, Arizona. He ran this business for 16 years.

Upon moving to Casa Grande in 1988, he was actively involved in church and community projects. For several years, he served as a docent for the Casa Grande Historical Society. As "Seeds of Hope" was established, he volunteered as a driver and driver coordinator for the lunch program. At the First Presbyterian Church, he served as head usher, greeter, President of the Potluck Group, and co-president of the newly formed Adult Ministry. For five years, he prepared his famous hamburger soup for the Women's Ministry's annual bazaar, thus becoming an "honorary" member of the women's Ministry. He assisted for several years in food preparation for the Wednesday family dinners.

Herbert will be remembered for being actively involved in the many activities of his children, his reputation as a great cook, his devotion to his church, volunteering, his great sense of humor, and his captivating storytelling ability.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Tom PICKETT, Doris WEEMS, James Ray PICKETT and Ercell PETIT.

He is survived by his wife Elsie Pauline, his daughters Elaine JONES, Diana SMILEY and Carol ADKINS, his sons Thomas and James PICKETT, his step-daughters Nita WIGGINS, Paula BOSWELL, his 4 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, and his 5 great grandchildren.

Services were held at the First Presbyterian Church at 702 E. Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande, Arizona, 85222 Saturday, June 19, 2004.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in care of the Herbert Pickett Scholarship Fund, at the above address.

See Also: ASU Alumni




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