John Turner Pickett III

John Turner Pickett, III, 91 of Sarasota Florida passed away peacefully at his residence, surrounded by his family. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the son of the late John Turner Pickett, Jr. and Edna Louise Bell. He is proceeded in death by his sister Elizabeth “Bette” Pickett of Sarasota.

It was at a young age when his family lived in a small farming community, Pahokee, on the southeastern shores of Lake Okeechobee, where he fostered his love of all animals that would shape the rest of his life. Always up for an adventure and coming from a military family, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1948, with Dog Company 7th Marines. John saw action in the Korean War. Only later in his life did he tell his family stories of the miserable conditions in fox holes —constant worrying about the enemy, through scorching summers and frigid winters, with no water, sleep, and not much food.

He received two purple hearts, three presidential unit citations, and seven battle stars. His last assignment was as a personal guard for former President Truman at the Key West Little White House. Upon his release in 1952, John resumed his education at the University of Florida. He, later, transferred to Southern Technical University, where he graduated in 1956 with a degree in Engineering.

After graduation, he worked for his father’s survey crew, surveying all of the Everglades. During this time, he met the love of his life Wanda; they married on July 31, 1952. She stood by his side watching all his mischievous pranks and both having adventures of a lifetime. He and Wanda loved to travel. In their sixty-eight years together, they visited over 50 countries, mostly seeking off-the-beaten-path places.

They moved to Sarasota, where he became a very successful businessman. They started the local Florida company PR Distributors. In business, he was known as the kind of man who honored a handshake. John was also an inventor. His best-known invention is Aquasolar, a patented swimming pool solar heater that is distributed in the United States, Central America, and Canada.

John’s love of wildlife was truly amazing to see. He enjoyed teaching his children and their friends how to explore Florida’s waters, it's wildlife and to appreciate its biodiversity. At his ranch, he introduced countless guests to many of their wildlife rescued animals, as well as his exotic animals. He was admired by all his friends and has been called a legend by many who knew him. He was well known for his brilliant mind, being a ferocious reader, his adventurous spirit, mischievous sense of humor, and most of all for his courage and love of family.

John is survived by his wife Wanda Harper Pickett, his brother Donald Pickett of Tallahassee, his four daughters all of Sarasota; Cynthia Pickett (husband Arthur LaGasse) grandsons Quintin James, Jacob (deceased) and Justin LaGasse), Donna Shannon, (grandchildren Megan Shannon Marshall and Timothy Shannon), Elizabeth Pickett Gray (grandchildren Robert Cody Gray and Lauren deGraffenried Gray) and Linda Pickett Snodgrass (husband Keith Snodgrass), grandchildren John Turner Reynolds, Taylor Reynolds Woodard, Trey Reynolds, and Tori Snodgrass Dyer along with numerous nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date