Myrtle Louise Pickard

Myrtle Louise Pickard, age 88 passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Magnolia Manor in Wasilla, Alaska. She was born June 14, 1929 in Danville, Illinois to Laurence Pickering and Mary Elizabeth Lake. She was the oldest of 8 children. She is survived by all of her 4 children: Brucene Hill, Travis Pickering, Karen Drury, and Tim Pickard. She was very proud of having 16 grandkids and 50 great grandkids that she loved and cared for unconditionally. She was known for her incredible work ethic, always being on time, and always there for anyone in need. She was a mentor to her entire family on how to be prompt, hardworking, honest and loving.

Myrtle came to Alaska in 1963 and went to work in vegetable farming for Art Thompson. She later farmed 160 acres alongside Max Sherrod. After that, she leased farmland and ran her own business until she retired. She was very proud of being a lifelong farmer. She farmed in the Mat-Su Valley for 24 years.

She was an excellent marksman, which she learned at a young age, hunting to feed her family. She always said, “If you missed your mark, you didn’t eat.” She was very passionate about fishing. If someone would take her, she would fish every day. She loved throwing horseshoes and won a world championship in her class and several state trophies. She also loved playing poker and had an awesome poker face. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.