Guy Picketts Sr.
Guy and his wife Annette have been constant supporters of the SpeedshifterS Wheel Club and our events for a few years now. We are deeply saddened at the loss of a good friend, father to one of our own and a helluva grandfather.
We will be posting more photos soon.
Guy was born on April 4, 1949 in Longview, Texas to Leonard S. and Elaine J. (Howard) Picketts II. Guy moved with his family to Marshall, attended Marshall Schools and was a 1967 graduate of Marshall High School.
Upon graduation Guy enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 10, 1967. He served as a Radio Operator serving on the USS John F. Kennedy and was based in Rota, Spain for a time. He was honorably discharged on August 3, 1971 and returned to Marshall.
Guy was married to Annette M. Gordier on September 28, 1968 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshall. The couple enjoyed a loving and fruitful partnership of 42 years together, creating a family that was the center of their lives.
Guy started his career in law enforcement in January of 1978 when he became an officer with the Marshall Police Department. There he served as a dispatcher and also meter enforcement officer.
He earned his Police Officers Certification at Kalamazoo Community College and in April 1983 became a Deputy Sheriff with the Calhoun County Sheriff Department. Guy served as an Animal Control Officer and also within the Law Enforcement Division, the Traffic Safety Unit and Road Patrol until November 1993.
Guy then worked as an Undercover Officer with the Southwest Enforcement Team until July 1997.
Upon returning to duty at the Calhoun County Sheriff Department he was promoted to Detective. Guy served as the department's only detective from then until his retirement on August 28, 2008 after 25 years of service. After his retirement he accepted the position of Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Marshall. He served there until his ill health forced his retirement.
During his professional career he earned numerous awards. He was recognized with the Citation for Professional Excellence from the Michigan State Police in April 1998, in 1999 he was Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and was a nominee in 1999 for the Michigan Sheriff's Association's Presidential Citation Award in 1999.
He also received the Professional Excellence Award, Distinguished Service Award, Department Unit Commendation in 2004 from the Sheriff.
Guy always strove to serve the public as best as he could and in the course of that continued his professional education during his career. He earned certificates in Tactical Driving and Pursuit Skills, Criminal Profiling, Radar Operator Training, United States Department of Justice FBI Sniper School, Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Enforcement, Michigan Justice Training for Jail Supervision, Tri County Regional Training Consortium, Officer Survival Training, Reid Method of Criminal Interviews and interrogation plus various courses in firearm training.
Upon his retirement he was honored by the Calhoun County Board Of Commissioners with a Resolution that noted his instrumental involvement in solving numerous difficult cases in Calhoun County.
Guy was a member of Moose Lodge #676 and the National Rifle Association. He was a true outdoorsman who hunted and fished during his life with a respect for nature's gifts. This was a love he passed on to his sons who hunt and fish with the same respect. On the morning of his death he met son Guy after Guy tracked the buck he shot and helped his son load it into his truck. Everyone will remember Guy's great sense of humor.
In the early 1980's Guy also served his community as a Part-Paid Marshall Firefighter and member of the Marshall Firefighter's Ambulance.
Guy's life was a full and useful one professionally and personally. He and Annette placed their children's and grandchildren's needs always above their own. A dedicated parenting team, they have produced a family that will live lives as full, useful and fulfilling as Guy's was.
Guy is survived by his wife Annette, their daughter Michele K. Smith of Marshall, their sons Guy H. (Jennifer) Picketts Jr. of Battle Creek and Matthew B. Picketts of Marshall; their grandchildren Trevor Smith, Nathan Smith, Rachel Picketts, Aubrey Picketts, Logan Picketts and Elias Picketts; his parents Leonard and Elaine Picketts II of Marshall; and his sisters Lisa (John Whitney) Picketts and Julia Jenkins both of Marshall. He was preceded in death by his brother Leonard "Sonny" Picketts III.
The past few weeks have been painful for our club... We'll miss you Guy.
