D.W. “Steve” Pickett died peacefully on July 8th surrounded by his family. He had beaten cancer at the age of 90 and continued to live a full life until at the age of 92, his big heart had some different plans. It took his life, but his strong will and spirit will live on.
He was born in Beaumont, Texas on February 4th, 1926 to Myrtie and Dayton W. Pickett. The childhood friendships he made there lasted a lifetime. He was an accomplished violinist and after graduating from high school at 16, he attended Lamar University on a music scholarship. Education was interrupted by WWII and after two years in the service he was offered a full music scholarship to the University of North Texas. He turned it down and attended his beloved “The University of Oklahoma.” He elected to study Petroleum Engineering on the advice of his friend, Cecil Mayfield, instead of a career in music.
After graduating from OU, he began a career in the oil and gas business with ARCO in Corpus Christi. He went independent in 1952 in a long association with Jimmy Doughty and later on with Gerald James. D.W. Pickett Oil and Gas was the operating company. He semi-retired in 2000, but never stopped going to “the office” and was grateful to have shared an office with Garland Dieringer for the last 20 years.
He met the love of his life, Jean Marie Pickett in 1953. After having coffee every morning for a year, he proposed marriage to her. They married within 10 days on August 20, 1954. Steve and Jeanie raised their family in Corpus Christi and all their children remain today in this city which they so love.
Through the years, Steve and Jeanie travelled to Peru, Mexico, Australia, Europe and other adventures. He loved his Sooners and for forty straight years, he would spend a week with good friends playing golf, tennis, & bridge in preparation for attending the big OU/Texas game. He also enjoyed playing gin rummy, watching the Sooners and Cowboys play football, the Astros and intellectual conversations. Knowing all of the words to Boomer Sooner put you in high esteem with him.
But most of all Steve loved his family and being around them. He was affectionately known as GP to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He took the whole family on a cruise for his 50th wedding anniversary and a memorable time was had by all. He made many sacrifices for his family and his mind was constantly working on solutions and suggestions on whatever was occurring in all of their lives. He was quietly and consistently generous, and he was recognized as a true gentleman and “one of a kind” by all he encountered.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 60 years, Jeanie. He is survived by his four children, Jena Kauffmann, Laurie Gordon(Charles), Jeff Pickett(Patricia) and Jim Pickett(Dana) along with 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nursing staff at PAM. They provided him great care and comfort over the last several weeks.
There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, July 11th at 1:30PM at St Luke's United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Luke’s or a church or charity of your choice.
Honorary Pallbearers: Matt Pickett, Ryan Pickett, Travis Kauffmann, Austin Adamson, Austin Anderson, Connor Taylor and Erik Doughty.
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