Lester Pickett Jr.

Lester Pickett Jr.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Lester Pickett Jr., 84, of Tamms died Friday, April 4, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born on Nov. 12, 1923, in Benton, Ill., son of Lester and Anna Mae King Pickett Sr. He and Sarah E. Lingle were married Aug. 13, 1962. She died May 3, 1997.

Pickett was a retired investigator for the secretary of state. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a past master and district deputy of the Caledonia Lodge 47 AF&AM. He was a Shriner, a life member of the Mounds Post 8891, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Order of the Eastern Star Lodge 587. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police 95 and the Illinois Police Association.

He is survived by two daughters, Rae Ellen DeMarse of Burnsville, N.C., and Beverly Ann Welch of Tamms; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, James B. Pickett of Tamms.

He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, with the Rev. Lacie Betts officiating. Interment will be in St. Johns Cemetery.