John R. Pickett

STONEWALL, LA - Services to honor the life of John R. "Buddy" Pickett, 76, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, officiated by Mr. Tom Brown. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Centuries Memorial Park. The family will receive guests on Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Buddy was born on March 14, 1941, and passed away on August 23, 2017. He was a 1959 graduate of Martin High School and proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force as a Military Policeman. Buddy enjoyed his 38 year career with SWEPCO as a Lineman, but his real passion was the Mason's. He received his Master Mason in 1988, and served as Master in 2007 and 2016 at Southern Hills Masonic Lodge #464. He was also Past Master at Cedar Grove Masonic Lodge #403, Past Master of Masonic Relief Lodge, and a member of Sunset Masonic Lodge #438. If the doors were open, he was there.

Someone once told him, "You have cold hands but a warm heart." They were correct as he had compassion and love to give to anyone. There wasn't a place you could go where someone didn't know who Buddy Pickett was. He will be deeply missed.

Buddy is preceded in death by his wife, Martha; parents, William David and Hazel Pickett; brother, Dawson "Posh" Pickett; and sister, Nelvin Bryant. Left to cherish Buddy's memory are his children, John A. Pickett of Mooringsport, LA, Michael Pickett and wife Melissa of Frierson, LA, and Rachael Bairnsfather and husband Clay of Stonewall, LA; brother, Joe Pickett and wife Joyce of Martin, LA; sisters, Dorothy Giddens and Doris Bamburg, both of Stonewall, LA, and Betsy Bell and Dinah Puckett, both of Bossier City, LA; grandchildren, Megan Caughern, Morgan Pickett, Blake Bissell, and Corey Bissell; great-grandson, Christian; and honorary family, his brothers of Southern Hills Masonic Lodge #464.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to the nurses and doctors of Willis Knighon North Hospital and the staff, physical therapists, and nurses of Southern Hills Nursing Facility.

Pallbearers will be members of the Masonic Lodge. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Pierce, Rodney Cochran, Rick Trant, and Don Doyle.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Shriner's Hospital for Children, or the charity of choice.