Melvin E. Pickett - Urbandale

Melvin E. Pickett, 91, of Urbandale, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at Bickford Cottage of Urbandale in Urbandale, Iowa. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, September 30, at the First Christian Church in Adel, Iowa with Pastor Tony Thurston and Pastor Michael Mudlaff officiating. Burial will be in the Oakdale Cemetery at Adel. Melvin was born on December 9, 1921, at Forestburg, South Dakota to Loren and Anna (Stevens) Pickett. He was married on June 2, 1963 at Des Moines, Iowa (Rising Sun Church of Christ), to Karen Kay Soper. He had been a residence of Guthrie Center, Urbandale and DeSoto. Melvin had been a furniture salesman at Younkers Store for Homes the majority of his life. He also worked at farming, as a mechanic, and sold insurance. He had belonged to the Masons and the Lions Club. Melvin had also attended the First Christian Church of Adel and Westkirk Presbyterian Church of Urbandale. Melvin is survived by his daughters, Michelle Gillespie of West Des Moines and Melinda (Jon) Denney of Des Moines; brother, Laverne Pickett of Guthrie Center; sister-in-law, Madonna Pickett of Guthrie Center; and grandchildren, Matthew Sheets, Megan Sheets, Marcus Gillespie, and Cassidey Denney. He was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Anna (Stevens) Pickett; wife, Karen (Soper) Pickett; brother, Wilbur Pickett; and sisters, Opal Kelsey and Lela Brown. Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 8 PM at McCalley Funeral Home in Adel with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 PM. Memorials given to the family will be directed to Unity Pointe Hospice, First Christian Church of Adel or Westkirk Presbyterian Church of Urbandale. Funeral arrangements are being handled by McCalley Funeral Home in Adel. Online condolences may be left at this site. Service: 11:00 AM Monday, September 30, 2013 First Christian Church Adel, Iowa Visitation: Friends may call after 12 PM Sunday, September 29, 2013. Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 P.M. McCalley Funeral Home Adel, Iowa