Obituary of Fred Pickett
Mr. Fred Murray Pickett of 68 Cedar Ave, Sussex, New Brunswick, passed away at Sussex Health Centre on June 7, 2006 at the age of 76.
Born in St. Leonard, NB on April 10, 1930, he was the son of the late Murray M. and Lillian M. (Pring) Pickett and the beloved husband of the late Annie Charlotte (Pollock) Crossman Pickett who passed away in 2002.
Fred is survived by two sons, Dan Gardiner and his wife Nancy of Saint John, Dana Pickett and his wife Kathy of Saint John, three daughters; Cheryl Donahue and her husband Roy of Moncton, Kelly Stern and her husband Garry of Didsbury Alberta, Joyce Pickett of Halifax.
Fred is predeceased by their mother Ernestine (Hunt) Pickett who passed away in 1999.
He is also survived by his step-children, Douglas Hunt and his wife Karen of Calgary, Alberta, Mary-Lou Blair and her husband Wendell of McAdam, Curtis Crossman of Ontario and Arliss Doucette and her husband Terry of Rustico, PEI; four sisters, Phyllis McGarity and her husband Everett of White's Cove, Eileen Noel and her husband Harry of Pictou , NS, Gweyn Rogne and her husband Lew of Cambridge Narrows, Vera Smith of Ontario, two brothers, Don of Fredericton, Murray and his wife Phyllis of Cambridge Narrows, four step-sisters, Frances Carr of Saint John, Winnie Bradshaw and her husband Joe of Halifax, Dorothy Hayes and her husband Cecil of Florida, Betty Taylor of Halifax., his step-brother, Norman Pollock and his wife Lorraine of Sussex, his Aunt, Doris Carson of Hampton, four grandchildren, Amy, Amber, Bernadette, Sean, 14 step-grandchildren, Todd, Maggie, Gaetan, Bradley, Brandon, Samara, Jennifer, Billy-Joe, Shannon, Curtis, Corey, Melissa, Ryan, Becky, three great grandchildren, Emma, Nash and Dash, seven step-great grandchildren; Colton, Katlyn, Shaelyn, Shauna, Dale, Kelsey and Jorja, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Fred was predeceased by three brothers, Frank, Allan and Robert, his sister, Isabel Secord, two step-sisters, Marie Hodgin and Ruth Campbell, his step-brother, Ron Pollock and his step-mother Alice (Allaby) Pollock-Pickett.
Fred was born April 10th, 1930 in St. Leonard, NB the third of 11 children of Murray and Lillian (Pring) Pickett. At the age of 6 the family moved to Young's Cove Road where he resided with family until July 1949 when he married Ernestine Hunt. Fred proudly got his first job at the age of 13 years and became a cookee to Vera Tower in Lepreau. This proved not to be a job he wanted and he returned home to work for his dad where, that same year, he took a horse and went to yard logs for two men cutting in the area. Fred held numerous jobs and worked around this area from the age of 13 to 19 years.
He worked and cut and/or hauled wood. Some winters he spent in a lumber camp working with a crew of men, keeping pace with the seasoned workers did not stop him. He has always said a good day's work will never hurt you. Fred joined the Canadian Army in 1950 and served in the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952. Fred arrived home in the spring of 1952 with Malaria and was hospitalized for a short time for treatment. As soon as he was well he got a job for the provincial government driving a truck for the next two years. Fred went to Labrador and work on the US Air force base during the winters of 1954 to 1956 on the snow removal crew. When he was home in the summer he held various jobs trucking around the area. He says he was never home more than a day or two when someone would be looking for him to drive for them for the season.
In 1960 he worked for Irving Oil trucking while home for the summer. For the winters of 1960 to 1964 he went back to Labrador each winter again working the snow removal crew. Fred worked for Gerald Sarchfield from 1964 to 1968. There were many long days during those years. Fred was given videotape by Gerald covering some of this work and his family enjoyed seeing it. In 1970 Fred returned to Labrador and stayed there until early 1978. During these years he worked as a logging contractor being self employed with a crew of men. When Fred left Labrador in 1978 he went to Prince Edward Island and owned and operated F. M. Pickett & Son's contracting wood cutting for Henderson Lumber Mill until 1984. In September of 1979 Fred married Charlotte (Pollock Crossman). Fred kept a crew of men working while Charlotte kept busy taking care of things at home. During the first two years the men working were all boarded in the home with them.
In 1984 Fred and Charlotte relocated to Havelock where they operated Pickett's Place restaurant and service station. Fred made many friends in the area during this time and thoroughly enjoyed these friendships. Fred and Charlotte retired in 1992 but remained in Havelock until after a period of failing health for Charlotte they moved to Sussex in 1999. Fred's could always be seen with his little Puppy 'Wendy' who was his constant companion for 13 years until the spring of 2004. She was a very special friend to Fred, everyone who knew him always looked for Wendy to be at his side and he never left her at home during this time. No matter where Fred was she was right there. If it was to your house to visit she sat at Fred's feet and waited to see what he would get her as a treat. If Fred was in a restaurant she would patiently wait in the car to see what he got her. Fred was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Havelock Branch #86.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176). Visitation will be held at Wallace Funeral Home on Thursday 7-9, Friday 2-4, 7-9 pm. The Royal Canadian Legion, Sussex Branch # 20 and Havelock Branch # 86 will hold a Legion Tribute Friday at 6:45 pm.
The Funeral Service will be held from Trinity Anglican Church on Saturday, June 10, 2006 at 10:00 am with Rev. David Barrett Officiating.
A private family interment will take place at Evergreen Memorial Park. As an expression of sympathy donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Society or to the memorial of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.
