Grandmaster Don Picket Passes Away

OKU Board member, Donald Ross Pickett, age 72, of Knoxville, passed away suddenly on Friday, March 5, 2010 at his residence. Mr. Pickett was retired from South Central Bell and AT&T after forty-three years of employment and was a veteran of the United States Army. Preceded in death by his parents, Harry E. Pickett, Sr. and Dorothy McNutt Pickett. Master Don Pickett, as he was known to all his martial arts friends, was involved with karate for over fifty years and trained with several outstanding sensei’s. His longest association was with his dear friend, Master Allen Wheeler, with whom he was a founding member of the Okinawan Karate-Do Union. Master Pickett was always a student and always a teacher. No matter whether the student was a white belt or a black belt, he gave his full time and attention to the student’s education. Master Pickett served as senior ranking instructor and senior weapons instructor at Wheeler’s and served on the board of the OKU for many years. He was posthumously voted to 9th Dan by the OKU board, giving him the honored title of Grandmaster. “We Will Miss You Sir.” He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Sandra McLemore Pickett of Knoxville; step-daughter, Carrie Reagan; step-granddaughter, Zoe Hazlewood; brother and sister-in-law, Harry E. Pickett, Jr. and Cindy Pickett; mother-in-law, Imogene McLemore; brother-in-law, Robert E. McLemore, Jr.; nieces, Landra Pickett, Lela Pickett, Genny Lynn Balmer and husband, Damon; nephews, Michael Pickett and Cole McLemore.

Funeral Arrignements

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Pickett's family and friends.

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