Wilfred Eugene Pickens, Sr.

Wilfred Eugene Pickens, Sr., age 67, of La Grande, died December 16, 2002 at the Veterans Medical Center in Portland.

A celebration of life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with Sally Wiens officiating.

Mr. Pickens was born in Doniphan, Missouri to Herman and Beulah (McRath) Pickens on July 28, 1935. He was raised in Doniphan and Poplar Bluff, Missouri and had seven brothers and four sisters. He served with the United States Marines and then married Brenda J. Smith on July 20, 1958. They had three children together and later divorced in 1980.

Mr. Pickens lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for awhile where he owned his own Amusement Company. In 1963 he moved to Oregon and worked as a carpenter until 1965 when he became a heavy equipment operator. He continued in that line of work until his retirement.
Mr. Pickens had collected and restored antique cars and enjoyed collecting old pocket watches. He was very musical and played various stringed instruments, his favorite being the mandolin. His favorite pastime was playing guitar and mandolin and singing with family and friends.

Survivors include his children, Wilfred E. Pickens, Jr. of Aloha, Oregon, Shirley C. Spray of La Grande and Kirk R. Pickens of La Grande; brothers and sisters, Bill Pickens of Doniphan, Missouri, LeRoy Pickens of Doniphan, Missouri, Herman Pickens, Jr. of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Billy Pickens of Douglas, Kansas, Mary Lou Morris of Derby, Kansas, Martha Piemeyer of Wichita, Kansas, Larry Pickens of Andover, Kansas, Charles Pickens of St. Helens, Oregon, Janice Thacker of Eldorado, Kansas, James Pickens of Andover, Kansas and Shirley Mae of Flint, Michigan; fifteen grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.