Donald Olen Pickard, son of the late Chester Olen Pickard and Velma Simmons Pickard was born in Florence, Alabama on December 27, 1946 and departed this life surrounded by his loved ones, at his residence in Marble Hill, Missouri on March 1, 2024 at the age of 77.
Don joined the Missouri National Guard on the deferred entry enlistment plan, at the age of 17, in February 1964 and attended drills until he graduated from Bernie, Missouri High School. In August of 1964 he began six months of Army boot camp & Advanced Infantry Training in Fort Jackson South Carolina & Fort Dix New Jersey, Respectively.
In 1967 he optioned to join the US Navy Seabees & was assigned to Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and ultimately was deployed to Vietnam on February 14, 1968. As a result of that deployment, he was awarded accommodations for bravery while serving in combat zones beginning in Da Nang, at the start of the Tet offensive & north to within six miles of the DMZ. Awards included the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, a Certificate for Meritorious Service from General Creighton W. Abrams and Letter of Commendation from his Battalion Commander for his part in building a 20 mile pipe line along National Route One from Wunder Beach to Hi Lang, an area infested with & under constant harassment from the enemy. After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1969, he joined the St. Louis City Police Department and also served honorably while receiving many accommodations before retiring after 20 years and ten months of service. He then joined the Division of Alcohol & Tabacco and served there until his final retirement in 2009.
He was united in marriage to Phyllis J. Emery in Maryland Heights, Missouri on February 21, 1970. Mrs. Pickard survives in their home in Marble Hill, Missouri.
Other survives include his two sons, Brian D. Pickard & wife Phyllis L. of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Mark T. Pickard & wife Hope of Malden, Missouri; by three grandchildren, Madalyn G. Pickard of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ian T. Pickard & Payton H. Pickard of Malden, Missouri; by one sister, Shelby Palmatory of Farmington, Missouri; also by other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death other than by his parents, by three brothers, Chester Pickard, Billy Pickard & David Pickard; by three sisters, Infant Betty Lue Pickard, Betty Lue Kitterman & Willodean Kettering.
Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie, Missouri on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Funeral services will then be conducted at 1:00 PM in the Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie with Rev. Aulden LeBlanc officiating. Interment will follow in Bernie Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
Mathis Funeral Home of Bernie is assisting with arrangements.
