BRAZIL — Charlotte  Ann Pickett, 73, of Brazil, passed away Aug. 16, 2012. She died at Regional Hospital following a short battle with pancreatic cancer, of which she was just diagnosed in June. She was born Jan. 27, 1939, in Brazil, the daughter of Benjamin Raybould and Lottie Viola Anderson Raybould. She graduated from Brazil High School in 1957. She continued her education at Indiana State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music in 1961. On Oct. 27, 1961, Charlotte was united in marriage to James H. Pickett. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last year.

Charlotte was an only child and spent many hours as a child in her father’s neighborhood grocery store, and playing with friends in a quiet neighborhood on North Alabama Street.

Mrs. Pickett began her teaching career at Covington Schools, and then taught at Reelsville for seven years. After the birth of their daughter, Charlotte became a stay at home mom until Larissa graduated from high school. Charlotte was able to enjoy all of Larissa’s activities in her school years. In Larissa’s adult years they have not only been mother/daughter but best friends. When Charlotte resumed her teaching career she continued to touch many children’s lives, first at Jackson Township, then as the North Clay Choir Director. Most recently Charlotte retired in 2009, as the music teacher at Meridian and East Side Schools. She also taught piano and vocal lessons for many years in her home.

Through the years Charlotte had almost a childlike love for decorating with each holiday, and loved to decorate her and her daughter’s home with her special talent to make holidays special. She also was an avid reader and loved to shop. Charlotte in her earlier years enjoyed crocheting, cross-stitching and needlepoint. Traveling has also been a joy for Charlotte going on many family trips with her husband and also her daughter, son-in-law and grandson.

Charlotte has been involved in music since a very young age. She directed the choir for the home extension group and was First Christian Church choir director for many years in the 1960’s and 1970’s. She was also a past member of Community Theater, the Brazil Concert Band, and Summer Showcase. Charlotte’s current memberships include Tri-Kappa, Brazil Woman’s Reading Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma, an education sorority. She is also a member of Brazil First United Methodist Church where for close to 35 years she has been the choir director. She was also very involved with children’s music at the church and was Vacation Bible School Director for many years.

When Charlotte’s grandson was born he became a light in her life and Benjamin certainly loved his “Nana”. Mostly, she enjoyed what he enjoyed the most, which was baseball. She has loyally attended all his games up to the end of last month. It was appropriate that Charlotte’s last outing with the family was to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game just a few weeks ago.

Charlotte was a 22 year breast cancer survivor, and her grace and dignity with which she has faced her stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis has been very comforting to her small close knit family. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, as well as her daughter Larissa (Andy) Goshen of Brazil and grandson Benjamin Goshen. Charlotte is also survived by sisters and brother in laws; Betty (Mike) Porter of Terre Haute, Robert Pickett (Judy) of Brazil, Carolyn O’Rourke, of Fort Wayne, and Anita (Tom) Kidwell also of Brazil. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. Additionally, Buffy Phyne always looked to Charlotte as her second mom.

Services for Charlotte will be Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Brazil. Burial will follow at Clearview Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday at Lawson-Miller Chapel from 4 to 8 p.m. Pall bearers are Benjamin Goshen, Junior Goshen, Brian Kaufman, Chris Mayfield, Oren Bott and David Hines. Honorary Pall bearers are Mike Porter, Tom Kidwell, Christopher and Nicholas Kaufman. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist Church Choir.