Josie Lee Pickett

Josie was always a hardworking woman who started working at the young age of eleven. Josie did what she could to help support her family by ironing clothes, lemonade stands, and helped at Mable’s Café in Vernon, FL. At the age of fifteen, she started her first job at Lykes Brothers in Tampa and then went on to be a cashier at Kash-N-Karry in Tampa. In 1966, she then dedicated 26 years as a machine operator at Swift and Co. Later in the 1970’s while working at Swift she owned and operated Alice in Wonderland Daycare in Tampa, FL. During the late 80’s Swift & Co relocated to Chicago and due to her illness, she retired and started helping her son with his property rental business and helped her daughter any way she could. Josie, from Indian descent (lower Muskogee Creek), took time to share her family’s Indian heritage. In 1998, she moved in with her daughter Jackie to continue doing what she loved most, helping her family. She spent a lot of time taking care of her grandson Skyler and assisted her daughter with responsibilities around the house.

Josie was a Christian woman and a true believer. She was a member of Temple Crest Baptist Church in Tampa, FL.

Josie was a dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She enjoyed having fun and being around those she loved. Some of her hobbies included playing cards, telling jokes, sharing home cooked meals, going to the Casino, shopping, telling stories about her life, listening and enjoying country music, going to her grandsons “Gigs”, and loved watching Fox News. She had a magnetic personality and people gravitated towards her. Josie was the stylish type of woman who loved to dress and wear her matching jewelry.

Josie was predeceased by her parents, Vallie and Angus; her son, Richard Lamar Pickett; ex-husband and dear friend, Richard Frederick Pickett; and her siblings, Edgar Davis, Alma Davis, Bobby Ray Davis, Gloria Koller, Thomas Davis, Patrick Davis, William Davis, and Betty Carter.

Josie is survived by her son, Randall Pickett (Debbie) from Thonotosassa, FL; her daughter, Jacqueline Clark (Randy) from Thonotosassa, FL; her grandchildren, Skyler Clark, Coleton Pickett and Logen Pickett all from Thonotosassa, FL; her sisters, Gracie Elaine Pitts (Everett) from Thonotosassa, FL, and Mae Frances Davis from Riverview, FL; her sister-in-law, Danna Davis from Vernon, FL, and her brother-in-law, Martin Kollar from Panama City, FL, as well as many nieces, nephews and life long friends.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 6, 2020, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33614. The funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Sunday, June 7, 2020, with a prior visitation beginning at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. The interment will follow immediately at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4250 E. Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.