Lambert Junior Pickard

Lambert Junior Pickard, 87, of Vancleave, MS died peacefully in Pascagoula on Saturday, July10th, 2010. Mr. Pickard was born in Meridian, MS, June 28, 1923 and had been a resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1965. Mr. Pickard was a gentle man who was filled with love for his family and friends. One could honestly say he never met a stranger. Many people were drawn to him because of his gentle and caring nature. Once a friend, always a friend, was the way he lived his life. Mr. Pickard was born in Meridian, MS to Alex Lambert Pickard and Gladys Faye Etheredge Pickard. He was a veteran of WWII and served in the US Army, stationed in Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. His career at Ingalls Shipbuilding began in 1966 concluding with his retirement from Litton Industries as a Senior Planner in 1993. He was a loving and active member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Pickard was an ardent gardener and enjoyed the outdoors and beauty of the Coast. His lifelong passion for sports included playing semi-pro baseball for the Meridian Millers in the late 1940’s, playing basketball for the U.S. Army, as well as coaching many local youth athletic programs. He was an avid golfer and a charter member of Pine Island Golf Club in Ocean Springs, MS. He loved to share his vegetables and flowers from his garden and his enthusiasm for golf and sports with his many grateful family and friends. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Estelle E. Pickard of Vancleave; his sister, Bonnie Jean Zirlott of Ocean Springs; his children, daughter Madeline Power of Ocean Springs, son Lambert Clark “Bubba” (Diane) Pickard of Ocean Springs, and Sara (Robert) Smith of Baytown, TX; his stepchildren John Ivy of Jacksonville, FL, Thomas (Linda) Ivy of Pembroke Pines, FL, Betty (Greg) Fountain of Navarre, FL, and Bonnie Beason Tanner of Ocean Springs; his grandchildren, Stephanie Saenz, Stacie Walter, Natalie Marcussen, Lee Pickard, Heather Smith, April Ivy, Brian Ivy, Tammy Current, Angela Blue, Thomas Ivy, Jr., Kenneth Fountain, Rachael Sistrunk, Billy Hudson, and Donna Barthes; nephew Keith Zirlott, niece Seri Zirlott and 21 great-grandchildren and dear friend and devoted care-giver Mary Nettles. His parents, his first wife of 50 years, Daisy Marie Clark Pickard, and a stepson, Robert Earl Beason, Jr, preceded Mr. Pickard in death. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs for family from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and for friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs. Interment will be at the National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS immediately following the funeral service.