Marthabelle Pickart

MARTHABELLE PICKART, 86 LAKELAND - Marthabelle \"Marty\" Pickart, 86, passed away from respiratory failure on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, in Lakeland. She was born on August 27, 1927, in Dallas, Iowa to Josephine and Floyd Cooley where she grew up in Knoxville, Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she played bass drum with the Scottish Highlander band, and after graduation, married Elwyn C. Pickart of Norway, Iowa. They moved to Chicago where they lived for two and a half years before moving to Lakeland in 1953 where she worked at the Ledger Society Department. After giving birth to her daughter and son, she later worked for Polk County, first at Southwest Elementary School, then at Polk County Aging Services as a homemaker supervisor. During her years in Lakeland, she also was active in community affairs, and served as President of the American Association of University Women, Lakeland branch. Marty was active in the Lakeland Little Theater as a costume designer, as well as working in the box office. She was also a member of the Cleveland Heights Women""s Golf Association for many years. Marty is survived by her daughter Anne Manning (Robert) of Lakeland; her son, Alan of Providence, Rhode Island; and by her two sisters, Catherine Corrine Compton of Crystal Lake, Illinois, and Joanne Presley of Ames, Iowa. She is preceded in death by her husband, Elwyn C. Pickart; her brothers Vernon Cooley, John Cooley, and Howard Cooley. She will be remembered as a loving mother, wife, sister, and friend. A memorial reception will be held at Azalea Park, 1325 Grasslands Blvd., Lakeland, 33803 on Saturday, Oct. 5th from 3-5 P.M. in the chapel. Contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice at 2525 Drane Field Rd., Suite 4, Lakeland, FL, 33811, or at the Compassionate Care Hospice website, www.cchnet.net. Azalea Park- Memorial Reception-3rd Floor Chapel Visitation: 10/05/2013 Azalea Park- Memorial Reception-3rd Floor Chapel