Barbara J. Pickert

Barbara Jean Pickert, 72, of Kennebunk, passed away March 24 in Scarborough at Gosnell House, a division of Hospice of Southern Maine. She was born August 6, 1935, to Raymond and Catharine (Hixson) Dillard. Barbara grew up in southern Ohio but spent the majority of her adult years living in Texas, the Washington DC area and Maine. She retired from federal civil service in 1995 and moved to Maine with her devoted husband of 36 years, Raymond Pickert.The valedictorian of her senior class in 1953, Barbara was a highly spirited and very motivated young woman, who, in retrospect, was many years ahead of society and most women of her generation. As a single-parent for many years in the era before day care centers, her strong determination made it possible for her to find a way to pursue her career in federal civil service while raising her family. Her marriage to Ray, who was nearing retirement with the Air Force, allowed her to continue and finish her career.Barbara was a spiritual woman and had to call deeply upon that strength more than once in her life, with the untimely deaths of her second daughter (age 18 months) and her second son (age 21).Retirement allowed Barbara and Ray to move to New England to enjoy participating in all of the milestones of growing grandchildren. Holidays were the times Barbara cherished the most with the family get-togethers. As arthritis and infections began to ravage her body, there was no greater medicine for her soul than watching the growth and development of her three great-grandchildren. Barbara is survived by:Husband, Raymond PickertMother-in-law: May PickertDaughter: Linda-Marie (Kelley Colello) Jones, and her husband WilliamSon: Randall Smith, and his wife KimberlyGrandchildren: Julie (Colello) Adams, and her husband Shawn; Sharon (Colello) Gendreau, and her husband Matthew; Alec, Nicholas and Jacob SmithGreat-grandchildren: Natalie and Gavin Adams and Lucas GendreauSisters: Beverly Rhoads, and her husband Herbert; Brenda Burba, and her husband SiegalNieces & Nephews: Andrea Patterson, Angela Thomas, Anita Tolliver, Derek Burba, Deron Burba, Lori Leibreich, Melanie Rhoads, Michael Rhoads and Pamela Zettergren.Several great-nieces and nephewsBarbara has joined her daughter Susan Smith and son Edwin Pickert who preceded her in death.Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale on Friday from 6-8 PM. A funeral service will be conducted at the funeral home on Saturday at 11 AM with the Rev. Elizabeth A. Keating officiating. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences may be expressed at the tab at left.