Mr. Harold J. Pickett

June 10, 1930 - November 16, 2011

Harold James Pickett, 81, of North Vernon passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus.

Born on June 10, 1930 in Zenas, Harold was the son of the late Carl and Flora Mae Speer Pickett. After finishing at Butlerville High School, Mr. Pickett joined the United States Army in 1947 at age 17 where he served his country for 20 years. While in the service he served two tours in the Korean War. He later married Annabelle Hull in 1953 in North Vernon. She survives. Upon the completion of his military career Harold attended the former Indiana College of Mortuary Science where he graduated in 1968 at which time he worked for various funeral homes. Harold eventually went on to work at Regal Rugs before becoming an insurance agent for Indiana Farm Bureau where he remained employed until the late 1980's. After his retirement from the insurance industry, Harold, along with the support of his family opened Pickett Funeral Home in North Vernon in 1988. Due to health problems, Mr. Pickett sold the funeral home in 2002 to Brian Sawyer.

Harold was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and a life member of VFW post 2021. He was also a life member and a Past Master of the Butlerville Masonic Lodge 219. He was a founding member of the Ludlow Fire Department on Ludlow Hill in Lawrenceburg. Mr. Pickett will be remembered as a servant to the community through his establishment of the Shoe Box Christmas for needy children in Jennings County, his serving on the board of directors for Jennings Villa Children's Home for 17 years, his 25 years as the regional Shrine Hospital Transportation Coordinator, and his serving as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff under Sheriffs Earl Taggart and Steve Hoppock. He served as Jennings County Coroner for 12 years.

Harold is survived by his loving wife, Annabelle, three sons James Pickett of Indianapolis and Michael (Janet) and Donald Pickett both of North Vernon, one daughter Marcella Templeton of North Vernon, five grandchildren, Travis, Daniel, and Carolyn Pickett, Nicholas Templeton, and Kane Barker, three great-grandchildren, Blake Templeton, and Melanie and Landon Pickett, a brother, Wayne Pickett of Florida, and a sister, Clarabelle Leahigh of North Vernon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Cecil, Curtis, and Russell Pickett, and two sisters, Myrtle Pickett and India Seal.

Funeral Information

A funeral service will be held at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 1:00 pm with Reverends John Willis and Michael Yates officiating. Visitation will be from 4 pm until 8 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011 and from 12 pm until the time of the service on Sunday. Burial will be at Vernon Cemetery with Military graveside honors provided by the United States Army and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2021.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, Harold's wishes were to have memorials made to the Shrine Children's Hospital Transportation Fund, Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, or Hospice of South Central Indiana.