David Larry Pickering, 85, of Piperton, Tennessee, died on July 9, 2026, at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital from complica- ______ ______ _________ __ ______ attack.

Dave was born on November 5, 1940, to Felix and Nadine (Ward) Pickering of El Dorado, Arkansas, where he grew up with his younger sister Judy and younger brother Dan. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1958 and Louisiana Tech in 1962 and received an MBA from George Washington University in 1976. He served in the United States Air Force 1963-67, including a year in Thailand. Following his military service, he worked in procurement for the US civil service at Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold Air Force Base, near Tullahoma, Tennessee. He retired as Director of Contracting after a distinguished career. During his time at AEDC, he received multiple honors and promotions and repeatedly managed the competitive bid process for the contracts to operate the facility. After retirement, he provided consulting services to Sverdrup Corporation. For many years, he also worked as a motivational humorist and speaker, and he and his son John taught seminars for students and parents on how to win college scholarships. In retirement, he accomplished a lifelong goal of becoming a licensed airplane pilot.

_____________________________________________________ active for many years at First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma, where he taught Sunday School for 30 years and for a time served as a lay preacher for smaller churches lacking a full-time minister. He was also an _______________________________________________________ to believe in the good news of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In his work and in his relationships, he always loved a good joke and could tell them ________________

Dave enjoyed life in retirement with his wife Judy ______________________________________________________ lages retirement community in central Florida, where Dave played golf as often as he could, and then in Fairhope, Alabama. They later moved to Piperton, Tennessee, where they were actively involved at Piperton Baptist Church and enjoyed travel and cruise opportunities frequently. When in town, they were faithful customers of The Silver Caboose Restaurant in downtown Collierville and enthusiastic supporters of their grandchildren, near and far.

____________________________________________________ (Wilcher) Pickering in 1996; his brother, Dan Pickering of Fort Worth, Texas; his stepson Judd Matheny, and his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Judy (Crouch) Pickering of ______________________________________________________ lages, Florida; his son, John Pickering (Jennifer) of Birmingham, Alabama; grandchildren Rachel Pickering of Montevallo, Alabama, Morgan Pickering of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Elizabeth Pickering of Birmingham, Ala- ___________________________________________________ ia, James Matheny (Kathryn Anne) of Collierville, Tennessee, and Richard Crouch, Jr. (Whitney), of Westlake _________ ____________ ____ ___________________ ______ Matheny of Orlando, Florida, Connor Matheny of Collierville, Tennessee, Anne Elizabeth Metcalf (Tanner) of Memphis, Tennessee, Madeline Matheny of Memphis, Tennessee, Aulden Matheny of Tullahoma, Tennessee, Abigail Hamilton (Turner) of Nashville, Tennessee, Allan Richard “Tripp” Crouch III and Willa Crouch of _________ _________ ____________ ____ ________ _______ ____ nephews and their children. He will also be missed by many other relatives and friends.

___ _____ ___ ________ _________ ______________ ____ ___ made to Piperton Baptist Church in Piperton, Tennessee.