Johanna "Helen" Pickett Obituary (1927

Johanna "Helen" Pickett, 90, a resident of the Forest Grove community passed away on January 8, 2018 at her home. Helen was born on January 23, 1927 in Everett, WA. She was one of six children born to Gerrit and Carrie (Klein) Terhorst. She lived on the family dairy farm in Marysville, WA until the age of seven when she moved to Arlington, WA. She attended Arlington High School graduating with the Class of 1945 She met her future husband, Vern Allen Pickett, while attending a church conference. They soon began dating and following a short courtship they married on September 19, 1947 in Marysville, WA. They had three sons; Al, Dale and Larry. Vern's building business had given the family the opportunity to move around the Pacific NW and Alaska. They settled in Forest Grove in 1985. Vern passed away on September 21, 2007 just two days after their 62nd wedding anniversary. Helen was a loving and devoted mother to her family. She was also the business bookkeeper, odd job doer and parts runner. She was very close to her family especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed singing, gardening and collecting family heirlooms. Helen loved to cook and bake and she used these skills to host at her home. Vern and Helen visited almost all 50 states, loved dogs (St. Bernard's) and was always available to babysit her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her loving Husband, Vern, a son; Al, a daughter-in-law; Donna and five siblings. She is survived by two sons and their spouses; Dale and Karen Pickett of Phoenix, AZ, Larry and Cindy Pickett of Gaston, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.