Charles Warren Pickett

IN MEMORY OF: Charles Warren Pickett Serving Location: CRAIN FUNERAL HOME – CAPE GIRARDEAU 829 North West End Boulevard, Cape Girardeau, Missouri Charles Warren Pickett was born on July 16, 1940, the eldest of 4 children of Warren and Martha Pickett. He departed this world following a brief illness on July 27th, having just achieved the ripe old age of 86. Variously referred to as Charles, Chuck, Charlie, or Mr. Charlie by his many friends and relatives, he was a bright and ambitious guy from an early age. He graduated from Cape Central High School, and then attended, and graduated from, SEMO University. While there, he was proud to be the editor of the Capaha Arrow. He also attended the University of Hawaii for 2 semesters. He then began teaching English, first at East Prairie, MO for a year or two, and then briefly in the St Louis area. However, his adventurous spirit moved him to seek employment with the airline industry so that he could travel the world. He secured employment as a Reservation and Travel agent with United Airlines in Chicago where he lived and worked for many years. In those days employees could travel just about anywhere they wanted at little to no cost, and travel he did! On many Sunday afternoons at the family farm, he would pull out the slide projector and screen, and narrate the photos of his most recent world-wide travels. He also was well known in the area for beginning an iris garden down there at the farm as a project while he was in high school. It grew and grew, until he eventually had several fields of many different colors and varieties of them. So many, in fact, that every Mother’s Day, when they were generally in peak bloom, folks would come from far and wide to enjoy or purchase them. He also became interested in raising daffodils and daylilies, and soon there were many of those as well. The flower gardens became pretty well known, and many local artists have been down there to paint them. He was also an active member of the Iris, Daffodil, and Daylily Societies, holding various positions with them over the years. He lived a pretty interesting life. He appeared on the TV game show “Name That Tune” (I believe he won a case of floor wax), and also appeared on “Stump the Band” on the Johnny Carson Show on Nov 7th, 1975 (you can Google and watch the episode- Gene Kelly was one of the guests). He also had a part-time modeling career of sorts in Chicago as well. He appeared in the Sears catalog on a riding lawnmower, a magazine ad with famous professional football player Merlin Olsen (where Charles was dressed in a suit of armor), and also appeared with a young lady in another magazine ad for Virginia Slim cigarettes. (fortunately, she was the one smoking, because he never touched a cigarette or anything else in his entire life) Charles was sort of the entertainment director for the Chicago United Airlines office. Donny Osmond once visited and spent most of the day there with him and the employees. They became pretty friendly, and on one occasion, Charles took our mom and an aunt to one of his performances, and he invited them all backstage. He also made friends with Frank Sullivan, guitarist for the band “Survivor” (Eye of the Tiger). He somehow met him at a fitness club, and they actually became pretty good friends. He was also a huge movie and movie star fan. Over the years, he managed to meet, rub elbows with, and obtain the autographs of many famous folks. He had a seemingly endless number of such stories that he loved to share with anyone that would listen. Charlie was a genuinely good guy. He seemed to make friends wherever he went. I used to call him “The Master of Comedy”, because he loved to cut up and tell jokes. I also referred to him at times as “The Town Crier” because he loved to gather the scoop as to what events were going on, where were the best places to eat, what businesses were opening or closing, and where to get the best bargains, etc. Then he made sure to share all of this information to anyone he thought might use it. We appreciate all of the many that have been a part of his life over the years. Many thanks to those who visited or helped care for him these last few weeks, particularly the staff at the Lutheran Home. He will be sadly missed, but we know that he is off on his next adventure and we’ll meet again further on up the road. Go in peace, brother. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Roger. He is survived by his sister Susan O’Connell and brother Brad, both of Cape Girardeau. He has one surviving uncle, Floyd Stroder, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Per his wishes, his ashes will be spread in his flower garden at the family farm. We hope to announce a Celebration of Life for him at a future date. For anyone that may desire to do something in Charlie’s memory, his brother has a suggestion that I know would make him happy. Strive to do whatever you can, big or small, to make the world a better place for all of us to live. Try to set aside your differences, and accept the fact that the world is full of people and that we all differ in many various ways. Nonetheless, everyone has a right to exist and live their lives as they see fit. Please practice kindness and tolerance towards others to the best of your ability. You may need it yourself one day. Thank you. Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Charles Warren Pickett

July 16, 1940 - July 27, 2026