Gene Pickering

Harry Eugene (Gene) Pickering passed away Friday, June 10 of mantle-cell lymphoma at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. at the age of 71. Gene is survived by his wife of 51 years, Karon Pack Pickering of the Whitfield community in Jones County; sons and daughters-in-law Stacey and Whitney Pickering of Laurel, Miss., Robert and Julie Pickering of Seminary, Miss., Justin and Emily Pickering of Ft. Bragg, NC, and Stan and Brittney Pickering of Laurel; brother Charles (Margaret Ann) Pickering of Hebron and sister Ellen (Jimmy) Walker of Crosby, Tex; grandchildren Katie, Robert Grady, Harrison and John Thomas Pickering of Laurel, Noah, Nathan and Joshua Pickering of Seminary, Isaac and Claire Pickering of Ft. Bragg, and Anderson, Meredith, and Truett Pickering of Laurel. nephews Mike (Debbie) Walker of Huffman, Tex., Mark (Cathy) Walker of Crosby, Chip (Beth) Pickering of Jackson, Miss.; and nieces Paige (Rick) Dunkerton of Hebron, Allison (Jerry) Montgomery of Shreveport, La., and Christi (Clint) Chapman of Opelika, Ala. and a host of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert Welch and Lucille Anderson Pickering of the Hebron community and brothers Bobby Vance Pickering and Thomas Pickering. Gene was born on December 4, 1944 in the Hebron community of Jones County and graduated from Ellisville High School, Jones County Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Business Administration. He moved back to the family's farm in Hebron to work the dairy operation where he and his brother Charles established Pickering Brothers Farm. Gene was a pioneer in Mississippi's catfish industry and after a career spanning over 45 years in the dairy business that included service on the National Dairy Board and being named Young Dairyman of the Year in 1976, he finished his career with Dairy Farmer's of America. A godly man, Gene served as a deacon at Hebron Baptist Church and loved working with the children's ministry in Awana. He and his wife were active with Gideon's International recently serving as State President. Gene was active in his community and state. Long-serving member of the Board of Directors for the Pat Harrison Waterway District, he was also instrumental in the founding of the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department, serving as chief. Visitation will be held at Hebron Baptist Church on Monday, June 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, June 14 at 10 a.m. with the funeral at 11 a.m. Burial will be immediately following at the Hebron Community Cemetery. The Reverend Josh Wooten will officiate the services. Pallbearers are Jeremy Dunkerton, Thomas Dunkerton, Harrison Pickering, Nathan Pickering, Noah Pickering and Robert Grady Pickering. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Seekers Sunday School Class at Hebron Baptist Church. Memory Chapel of Laurel, Miss. is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please send to Gideon's International at The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or www.gideons.org.

Gene Pickering

December 4, 1944 - June 10, 2016