Obituaries

Jean Darlene Picker

Photo of Jean Darlene Picker
Jean Darlene Picker, 78, of Holts Summit, passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at Villa Marie Skilled Nursing Facility in Jefferson City after a three month battle with brain cancer. Jean was born on August 23, 1935, in St. Louis, one of the twin daughters of the late James Avery and Jessie Margaret (Branson) McDaniel. On June 8, 1958, Jean was united in marriage at Leduc Methodist Church, near Red Bird, to Lawrence Albert Picker who survives. Jean was a homemaker who also, for several years, provided day care services for several children, some from shortly after being born until school age and beyond. For one year she was a bus driver for the Jefferson City School District, she also worked a short time at Cheesebrough Ponds and Scholastic Magazine and before marriage, for five years at International Shoe Factory in Bland. She enjoyed traveling, making various craft items for her friends, working crossword puzzles, going to her granddaughter's ball games, and for nine years, going to Zapata, Texas for part of the winters and visiting with her many friends there. In addition to her husband, she is survived by one son, Keith Alan Picker (wife Charlene) of Port Orchard, Washington; one daughter, Karen Marlene Howard (husband Ricky) of Fulton; three sisters, Patricia "Patsy" Michel (husband Raymond) of Bland; Maxine Scheel, of Owensville; and twin sister, Joan Houseman (husband Eugene "Shorty") of Owensville; three granddaughters, Cristina Picker, Amanda Howard and Taylor Howard; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Edward Scheel Jr. and Melvin Louis Picker, and many aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins and many good friends. She was a member of the former Leduc Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville with Pastor Jackie Asher as the celebrant. Burial will be in the Leduc Methodist Cemetery south of Bland. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Monday at the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home. Memorial may be made to the Leduc Cemetery Association.

Published November 3, 2013