James 'Jay' Pickering Sr.

James "Jay" Pickering Sr., 75, of Springdale, Ark., passed away at his home on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013. Jay was born on Nov. 23, 1937, in Vendor, Ark., a son of Elmer Hamilton Pickering and Cora Jane Eddings Pickering. He married Joyce Faye Reddell on July 22, 1963, in Piercetown, Ark. Jay was a garage door installer for the Overhead Door Co., loved the outdoors, including hunting, fishing and cutting firewood, and loved being with his grandchildren. He was a member of the Pentecostal Gospel Lighthouse Church, where he served as a trustee. Jay was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce Pickering of the home; two sons, James G. Pickering Jr. of Springdale and Elmer Pickering of Hindsville; three daughters, Terrie Gonzales of Springdale, Tina Imler of Bethel Heights and Serenity Pickering of Springdale; 19 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces. Funeral services for Jay will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the Pentecostal Gospel Lighthouse Church. The Rev. Jeff Hutcheson will officiate the service, with burial being held at the Bluff Cemetery, under the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale. Please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com to sign an online guest book. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be made at the First Security Bank, 100 W. Emma, Springdale, Ark.