On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Terry Pickett, beloved father and husband, passed away at the age of 80. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Ruth Pickett, his brother Bill, and his sister Louisa. Terry grew up with his five siblings in the family home on Forest Avenue in Kansas City, MO. He had fond memories of riding the trolley, watching ball games on the TVs in the window of the local appliance store, and working his way up the ranks to become an Eagle Scout. He attended Rockhurst High School and continued on to receive his  Bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst College (now University). Terry stayed in academics, attending Bradley University to get his Master’s degree in speech and to coach the undergraduate debate teams.  It was there he met his future wife, Margaret (Johnny to friends and family, J to Terry). Terry and Johnny began their 55 years of married life in 1969. Johnny worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City while Terry pursued a PhD from the University of Kansas in Communication Studies. He graduated in 1974 and became an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh while Johnny earned a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University. In 1980, Terry was offered a professor position at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It was an opportunity to be closer to family in Kansas City, and so Terry and Johnny moved to Iowa, which would be their home for the next 25 years. It was the perfect town to start a family, Terry’s favorite daughter (and least favorite as he would jokingly point out on occasion) Kate was born in 1984 just as spring finals were wrapping up. He would stay at home with baby Kate over the summer, cementing a bond between father and daughter that would last a lifetime. At Iowa State, Terry taught Communication Studies before eventually retiring to start his own consulting business. Terry Pickett and Associates had devoted clients big and small, near and far. In his free time, Terry loved going to the theater with his friends, traveling to Colorado to camp and hike, and volunteering with Beyond Welfare. For his 50th birthday, Terry left the United States for the first time, traveling to Australia and New Zealand. The trip sparked a three decade love of travel that took him and Johnny to all seven continents. In 2007, with Kate grown and out of the house, Terry retired and he and Johnny moved to Pagosa Springs, CO, accomplishing a lifelong dream to live in the Rocky Mountain state. Terry quickly built his new community in Colorado, making fast friends who coffeed together once a week, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County. He launched a home repair program that helped fund repairs on existing homes. Terry always loved to leave a place better than he found it. Terry and Johnny couldn’t ignore the pull back to Kansas City after the birth of their granddaughters, Margot and Mia. In April 2022, they moved back to their hometown to be closer to their grandchildren. Terry would do anything for those girls, ignoring aching knees and hips to get down on the ground and play with them. Terry will be remembered for bringing people together with love and laughter (and more than a few groans at his puns). He loved his family, travel, all genres of music, making things with his hands, a good movie, and a fine martini. He spent his time making his community better, helping others with a smile and a joke. He was never shy to share with friends and family how much he loved them. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Pickett, daughter Kate McNair, son-in-law Ryan McNair, granddaughters Margot and Mia McNair, and siblings Anola Pickett, Mary Vincent, and Tom Pickett. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Archuleta County (CO) Habitat for Humanity to continue Terry's legacy of leaving a place better than you found it.

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Terry Pickett Obituary | Cremation Center of Kansas City