PICKETT, Esther Laurine

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Saturday, July 21, 2007 Esther Laurine Pickett, 99, of Flagstaff, died peacefully on Friday, July 13, 2007, in the loving care of the Olivia White Hospice Home. Mrs. Pickett was born July 27, 1907, in Schuyler, Neb., the first child of Albert and Louise Nieman. Her family moved to Kearney, Neb., for her and her sister to attend high school, where she graduated in 1925. She continued her studies at Kearney State Teachers' College, where she graduated, and became a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Nebraska for several years. Mrs. Pickett lived in several western states during her life, including Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. She moved from Albuquerque, N.M., to Prescott in 1963, then pursued her keen interest in nutrition by opening a health food store with her husband, Foy. Following his death, she moved to Flagstaff when she was 81 to be near her family and was a lively part of the lives of her son and his family. Mrs. Pickett enjoyed travel, visiting Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, driving along the Pacific coast and seeing many other sites during her retirement years. Throughout her retirement, she shared a special love with her family and close friends in Flagstaff, while gardening, birdwatching and forecasting the weather with uncanny accuracy. She always had dogs, once operating a Dalmatian kennel in Golden, Colo., and loving her pet Happy in her recent years. Her bright and caring spirit inspired everyone she met. Mrs. Pickett is survived by her son, Dean (Cindy) Pickett of Flagstaff; daughter, Val (Willard) March of Albuquerque; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Mable and her husband, Foy. A celebration of Mrs. Pickett's life will be on what would have been her 100th birthday, Friday, July 27, at 2 p.m. at Flagstaff Federated Community Church. Arrangements are by Norvel Owens Mortuary.