Betty Berry Pickering

Betty Ruth Pickering, 91, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016 in Augusta, Georgia.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 1:30 in the Ottumwa Cemetery. There will be visitation from 12:30 to the time of the service at the Robertson-Jay Funeral Home 220 N. Court Street, Ottumwa.

Mrs. Pickering was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on January 29, 1925 to Elizabeth and Asa Berry. She attended Hindu Country School near Blakesburg, graduated from Ottumwa High School and Iowa State University with a degree in Home Economics Education. She taught high school Home Economics in Ratcliff, Iowa prior moving to Cedar Rapids. On August 22, 1948 she was united in marriage to Richard Pickering and they made their home in Cedar Rapids for the next 52 years. Betty was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, a charter member and past president of Chapter LU, PEO, and a member of St Paul’s United Methodist Church for 66 years.

Betty is survived by daughter Barbara Coxwell of Augusta, Georgia; son Christopher (Kathy) Pickering of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren Asa (Blane) Coxwell of Grovetown, Georgia; Kaitlin Pickering, Margot Pickering, Samantha Pickering all of Overland Park, Kansas and sister Doris (Don) Schatz of Bella Vista, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard Pickering, and son-in-law Herschel Coxwell.

Memorials may be made to St Paul’s United Methodist Church 1340 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Cottey College Scholarship Fund, 1000 W Austin, Nevada, MO 64772, or the Alzheimer’s Association.