Mary Lee Pickett

November 8, 1931 - January 29, 2021

Mary Lee Pickett, 89, passed on Friday, January 29, 2021 at her home surrounded by her children. She was the former Mary Lee Kendall, born in Campbellsville, Kentucky, on November 8, 1931. She graduated from Campbellsville University in 1951, and University of Louisville in 1976 and 1985. She taught school in a one-room school which created her desire to be a teacher. She married and had two children, John and Brenda. They moved to Louisville in 1958. She began her teaching career teaching in a one room school, Walnut Grove ll. This created her passion to be a teacher. She taught four years in public schools, Smyrna, Okolona, and Wilt. She also taught 30 years in the Catholic Schools, St. Rita, St. James, and St. Thomas More. After retiring she did substitute teaching for 12 years and tutored at Sylvan Learning Center for 10 years. She organized Remedial Reading tutoring programs in two schools and won a grant from Louisville Foundation to fund these programs. She managed an intramural basketball program for elementary students for 10 years. Her Book Bee teams won three championships. She was involved in several professional organizations: IRA, GLCTMA, and NCEA. She served as president of the Catholic Educators’ Association, ACE. She was in the Who’s Who Among Americas’ Teachers. She retired from full time teaching in 1999. Mary Lee was an active member of Cedar Creek Baptist Church and Parkland Baptist Church. She also enjoyed music, ballet, theater, sports and traveling, but most of all her family and friends. She is survived by her son, John Pickett of Louisville and a daughter, Brenda Pickett of Georgia, granddaughters, Charity Hatfield and her husband, Bob, and Ashley Martin, all of Georgia; grandson, Shawn Pickett and his wife Bobbi of LaGrange; great-grandchildren, Bobby and Lauren Hatfield, Hannah Lukas, Ivorie and Irelynne Pickett and Abigail Martin; lifelong friend and cousin Barbara Miller; many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and special friend, Raymond Skaggs. Visitation will be Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 4-8 pm at Ratterman and Sons Funeral Home 3800 Bardstown Rd. Mary’s funeral service will be at 10 am on Friday, February 5, 2021 at the funeral home with burial to follow in Brookside Cemetery, Campbellsville, KY. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hosparus of Louisville.