PICKETT, Rev’d. Keith Edward

Born on July 21, 1939. Passed away September 4, 2021.

Passed away peacefully at home in Mirboo North on Saturday September 4, with family around him.
He was a great  husband, father, minister, teacher, mentor, and friend to many.
Coralie, Matthew & Sue, Simon & Miriam, Lucinda & Amir, Yolande & Sriram, and grandchildren Jason, Adam, Miranda, Bram, Pari, Alison, and Lachlan.
Farewell Dad, you were greatly loved.

Order of Service

Funeral Notice
The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Rev'd. Keith Edward Pickett will be on Wednesday September 8, 2021 at 1:30pm. The Service will be livestreamed, to view please click here.
Tributes
  1. Dear Keith, you have been a much loved and respected member of our church family. We will miss your humble wisdom and generosity of spirit. You will be greatly missed and we are greatly saddened. Our deepest sympathy to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda, Yolande, Your spouses and children. Rob and Di.

    Dianne Kiddell September 6, 2021
  2. Keith was a wonderful man who lived by his beliefs. He was a generous and kind person. He made a positive impact through his teaching and church work. Making other people stronger and happier is a wonderful legacy to leave. I remember Keith entertaining many as he strutted the stage at the Lillimur Hall.
    Farewell dear friend. Condolences to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda and Yolande, their partners and children.

    Iain September 7, 2021
  3. Dear Keith you will always be remembered as a great teacher and for the support you gave our son in year 11 and 12. It will never be forgotten. R.I.P Deepest Sympathy to Coralie and your family
    Kelvin and Heather Austin and family

    Heather Austin September 7, 2021
  4. Dear Keith, our lives were greatly enriched by knowing you and we miss your presence now and in the future. We will treasure our memories of you.
    Heartfelt condolences to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda, Yolande and all the family.
    Gillian and family

    Gillian Comans September 7, 2021
  5. Coralie, I saw in the Age that Keith had died and realise that his is a very sad time for you and for your family. I am glad that you were all with him at the end. My prayers are now for you and all your family. Keith has fulfilled his ministry to Christ.

    Sandra Thwaites September 7, 2021
  6. Will always remember your singing in our group Boolarra Veranda Jammers.

    Alex Stevenson September 7, 2021
  7. I remember when Keith joined the staff at Swan Hill High, after coming from Darwin following the cyclone. He was a lovely man, kind and gentle, but also with a sharp mind and firm convictions from which his students benefitted. He shared the grief and anger of many of his colleagues when the Whitlam government was dismissed. We missed him when he left the school. Deborah Rogers

    Deborah Rogers September 7, 2021
  8. I was very lucky to have a Dad who was, among many things, a great friend. I found a bookmark in one of Dad’s books of poetry for Tennyson’s poem, ‘Crossing the Bar’, which I was able to read out aloud to Dad recently; this is it:

    Sunset and evening star,
    And one clear call for me!
    And may there be no moaning of the bar,
    When I put out to sea.

    But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
    Too full for sound and foam,
    When that which drew from out the boundless deep
    Turns again home.

    Twilight and evening bell,
    And after that the dark!
    And may there be no sadness of farewell,
    When I embark;

    For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
    The flood may bear me far,
    I hope to see my Pilot face to face
    When I have crossed the bar.

    Matthew Pickett September 7, 2021
  9. Dear Keith, I always remember you as my loved and respected pastor when I was still a young student and studied in Australia nearly 30 years ago. You had always been very caring and loved all of us, all overseas students who came to Auburn Baptist Church. You will be greatly missed by not only me, but all overseas students who know you. Our deepest condolences to Coralie, Simon, Matthew, Lucinda and Yolande, their partners and children.

    Danny Soetomo September 7, 2021
  10. Farewell Keith,
    Well done thou good and faithful servant.
    With great sadness I will miss you.
    My commiserations to Coralie and all the family

    Kim Crosthwaite September 7, 2021
  11. Dear Keith, RIP. you will always be remembered. I was hoping to see you in person later this year but alas God had other plans for you.

    Condolences to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda and Yolande.

    Elaine Cheong September 7, 2021
  12. My deepest condolences to the Pickett family for the passing of our beloved Rev Keith Pickett, a great and loving Pastor to the family of Auburn Baptist Church especially to the overseas students back then and also for your hospitality when my parents and grandma visited Melbourne.

    What a great and fruitful 82 years of God’s grace indeed. You are now with the Maker and waiting for all saints to be reunited with the Almighty.

    Praying for God’s comfort, strength and peace to be upon Coralie Pickett Matthew Charles Pickett Simon Pickett, Lucinda Pickett, Yolande Pickett, the in laws and the grandchildren.

    Helen Nanlohy September 7, 2021
  13. You will be forever missed in our life. Thanks for your support, love and care. Personally you have sown a seed of greatness in my life which has blossomed to be a person who I am now pastoring a church.
    You have left a legacy. Bye Keith, my mentor, spiritual father and prayer warrior. You are now with Christ in heaven. Yong (Joshua Chandra)

    Joshua chandra September 7, 2021
  14. Dear Keith, I am proud to call you my friend. Your humility, dignity, cheerful disposition and unwavering loyalty inspire me. To a true gentleman, rest in peace. My deepest sympathy to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda, Yolande and your extended family.
    Cheryl Miscamble

    Cheryl Miscamble September 7, 2021
  15. In a childhood with many dark corners you were a shining light. At a Sunday school camp at Western Port bay I saw your sense of humour for the first time. You may recall you had peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth. A story that has stuck with me. But most of all Keith your ability to listen empathise and not be judgemental standout as some of your strongest character traits. I grew to love you as a brother and will miss our chats when I call on Coralie. I look forward to meeting you again one day when all those theological questions will be answered.

    Mick Chapman September 7, 2021
  16. Dear Sir,
    It rains when a good man pass away, it has been pouring down. Very few men have the balance of science and faith and walk the clear line and I admire you for that. I did not get to know you well but knowing your children Yolande, Simon, Mathew and Lucinda and to see how they shine with character tells me the beacon of light you must have been. You will always live in our hearts and mind. Truly Ramy

    Ramy September 7, 2021
  17. Farewell Keith , a long time family friend of Terry and our family. Our deepest sympathy to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda, Yolande and your families . Remembered by Joy, Rowan, Angela, Damon, Nora and our families.

    Joy Beeby September 7, 2021
  18. Dear Coralie,
    I was so sorry to read in the Age the passing of
    Keith. Both you and Keith were in our wedding
    party and I remember him with great fondness.
    My thoughts are with you and your family.
    Love from Denyse Tucker

    Denyse E Tucker September 7, 2021
  19. Dear Keith, I remember you as a gentle and kind pastor, I really appreciated what you did for me and us as international students 3 decades ago. You were like a father to us all. You will be missed by all of us, our deepest condolences to Coralie and your family. Rest in Peace.

    Hendra Sianto September 7, 2021
  20. Keith was a humble and kind man. We remember him from Auburn Baptist days where his teaching and work had a great influence on us. We fondly remember our time there. Our deepest sympathy to Coralie, Matthew, Simon, Lucinda and Yolande.

    Warren and Lois Platt September 8, 2021
  21. Out love, prayers and deepest condolences at the passing of a dear friend Keith. We have such fond memories of fun, laughter and friendship at weekends away. His strength of character, faith, knowledge and humour were only to be admired. He was so well loved and respected by all who engaged with him. He is now at peace with his Lord.
    Val and Trev Hemmings

    Valerie & Trevor Hemmings September 8, 2021
  22. Keith you will be greatly missed for your wisdom and strength We loved you very much Geraldine and Ian
    All our love to Coralie and all the family

    Ian Southall September 8, 2021
  23. Even though we had only known you for a few years what a pleasure, you will be sadly missed. Condolences to Coralie & Family

    Dot & Don September 8, 2021
  24. A wonderful service to honour a wonderful man of God

    Jan and Rob Bell September 8, 2021
  25. It was with integrity and authenticity that Keith conducted himself always. Even in his sermons he showed his emotions authentically. He was well known for his wisdom and sense of humour. And I experienced both. He loved his family. I greatly admired his ability to cope with physical pain. I also loved the way he could sit in his study for hours and just be. May we all keep our curiosity alive until the end of our days. Just like Keith. He has earned his rest. Love to Coralie and his family. And to all at St Andrew’s, who loved him dearly xxx Joedy Meers.

    Joedy Meers September 8, 2021
  26. I have a wonderful memory of staying with Keith, Coralie & family in Kaniva 1989. Karen and I really appreciated the hospitality and the wise counsel of Keith as it was a time of significant change in our lives. Always a pleasure when we did catchup. With Love & Respect,

    Vic Heyward September 8, 2021
  27. Dear Mr Pickett, thank you for being such a great teacher and mentor. So sad to hear that your time has come as it does for us all eventually. RIP. Deepest sympathy to the Pickett family .

    Sandra Killen (Mackay) September 8, 2021
  28. G’day Keithy Boy, Thank you for loving us….
    Don’t be a stranger…ha ha ha ha

    Silvano Traverso September 9, 2021
  29. Dear Keith, I don’t know you much but you and Coralie are the people I felt closer to at St.Andrews, Mirboo North. Glad the we had the chance to celebrate with your family your 80th birthday. PS.116:16. Precious in the sight of the LORD,is the death of His saints. RIP KEITH. Condolences to the bereaved family.

    Polly Corfield September 9, 2021
  30. The cliché as it goes
    ‘My father is the best’
    But in my situation
    I’m not lying like the rest

    My father he was good and kind
    And funny as a clown
    And he always pulled me out before
    I sank and bloody drowned

    He was there for the confusion
    Through my pubescent years
    He was there across the decades
    Allaying all my fears

    He had that rare and special gift
    Of listening to others
    And this did not stop shy of me
    My sister or my brothers

    He was a great performer
    He strutted on the stage
    And his whistle was as pretty
    As a bird free of its cage

    He sang songs with great gusto
    Both theatrical and pious
    And I can hear you thinking
    ‘For sure his daughter’s biased’

    But ‘tis not true, ask anyone
    His students, family, friends
    He taught us all, how life to live
    A life whose path ascends

    I love that he passed on to us
    The reason not to judge
    To always think for our own selves
    And never hold a grudge

    He loved God’s earthly creatures
    Fluffy, great and small
    The dogs, bunnies, kangaroos
    He adored them all

    He loved the wide brown land he did
    In bulk he planted trees
    Those for the koalas
    Those for birdies and for bees

    I loved when he explained to me
    The seaweed and the rocks
    No one can know more than him
    Not even Brian Cox

    And when the kookaburras laugh
    I know that he is near
    My father, mentor, greatest love
    Let’s raise a scotch or beer

    To Mr Pickett, Keith and Dad
    Respected, wise and loved
    He is a diamond of a man
    Still listening from above

    Lucinda

    Lucinda Bechor (nee Pickett) September 9, 2021
  31. Dear Coralie, our deepest condolences are with you and your family on Keith’s passing. He was a wonderful man of God. He taught us many things and was a friend to all of us. We looked forward to his children’s addresses in church. He was a lovely, caring and positive man. Always smiling and laughing. You will miss him greatly. Love and prayers. Mark, Kerrie, Amy, Ethan and Brielle Tudor

    Kerrie Tudor September 11, 2021