Francis Pickel

Francis Charles Pete Pickel, 93, of Clovis, passed away Thursday, July 15, 2010 at Clovis Healthcare and Rehab Center. He was born on December 9, 1916 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to Francis and Mittie Nalley Pickel.

Pete graduated from El Reno High School in El Reno, Oklahoma, and began working on a ranch south of Melrose, New Mexico. He worked for the railroad briefly then enlisted in the Army Air Corp where he aided in the construction of Ft. Sumner Air Glider Base that now serves as a NASA weather balloon site. He married Viola Brown on November 6, 1942 in Ft. Sumner, and served in England during World War II. After 1945, the Pickels came back Ft. Sumner where Pete worked for Ray Jack Freezing Plant. After living briefly in Elmore City, Oklahoma, Pete and Vi Pickel came back to Clovis in 1958 where Pete worked as a carpenter, eventually retiring from John Cornell Construction. Pete was a member of Parkland Baptist Church, the American Legion Post 25, loved the outdoors, fishing and walking.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Vi Pickel of Clovis two sons, Charles Sue Pickel of Davis, Oklahoma, and Lonnie Alexa Pickel of Clovis one daughter Donna Jesse Davis of Columbus, Ohio one sister Vera McCarty of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma 6 grandchildren, Marcus Pickel of Keller, Texas, Kathe Pickel of Gilmer, Texas, Bryon Pickel of Apopka, Florida, Jan Klinger of Tucumcari, New Mexico, Donice Hammond of Columbus, Ohio, and Charlene Schwinn of Columbus, Ohio and 10 greatgrandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and eight brothers.

Visitation is at SteedTodd Funeral Home in Clovis, New Mexico. Closed casket services will be held Tuesday, July 20 at 10:00 a.m. at SteedTodd Chapel with Rev. Dick Ross officiating and Rev. Wayne Boydstun assisting. Burial will follow at Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery on West 7th Street in Clovis. Pall bearers will be Gene Harvey, Bill Reid, Dub Bishop, John Schwinn, Bryon Pickel and Matt Klinger. Honorary pallbearer is Dick Higgs.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Childrens Home. P.O. Box 629, Portales, New Mexico 88130.

Arrangements are by SteedTodd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana Blvd., Clovis, New Mexico, 88101, 5757635541.

Service

Funeral

Steed Todd Chapel
800 E. Manana Blvd
Clovis, NM  88101
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Mission Garden of Memories
7th & Rio
Clovis, NM  88101

Memorial Contributions

P. O. Box 629
Portales, NM  88130