Carl Edward Pickard, 76, of Cabot, went to be with our Heavenly Father May 22, 2021.  He was born May 26, 1944 in Cabot to the late Herman and Lucy Pickard.  Carl will be remembered for the service he provided for his hometown of Cabot.  He began as a firefighter and eventually became fire chief serving from November 1962 – February 1995.  Carl began his firefighting career when the Cabot Fire Department was a volunteer department and fire calls were dispatched through a red phone that hung on the wall of his home.  He worked tirelessly to improve the department and provide additional services, including an ambulance that was run out of the department.  He worked with city management and budgets until the department could have full-time employees and provide services as they do today.

Until the fire department became a full-time job, Carl was manager of Templeton's IGA.  The grocery store was located downtown, next to the old post office, until it was destroyed in the tornado of 1976.  The store was rebuilt on Hwy 89 South and served many in the community until it was sold to Knight's.  After retirement, Carl began mowing lawns for citizens and businesses in Cabot.  He had a strong work ethic and enjoyed working as his hobby.  Carl loved to work and loved the people he worked with.  He often said, "If I cannot get up and go to work, I would just as soon die."  That is exactly what he did.  He was mowing grass at Mount Carmel cemetery, where he served as cemetery groundskeeper, the day before he was hospitalized.

Carl was educated in the Cabot School District where he was outstanding in football and remained friends throughout life with his classmates.  Carl was offered a football scholarship at the University of Arkansas, but chose to stay in Cabot with his family.  He did not believe education made a man, but hard work and honesty did.  This was seen in the integrity and compassion that he showed to everyone he came in contact with.

In addition to his parents, Carl was preceded in death by Frankie Pickard and adopted sibling, Leon Sharp.  Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Kyle (Monique); daughter, Kristy; former wife of thirty-seven years, Lynda; two beautiful grandchildren, Caleigh and Ashlynn; siblings, MayLee Polantz and Pat Smith as well as many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Mount Carmel Baptist Church with interment to follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery.  Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home.    The family suggests donations in memory of Carl Pickard to the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Foundation, P.O. Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD  21727 or by calling 301-447-1365 or visiting their website at www.firehero.org/donate/ ; or, Mount Carmel Cemetery, PO Box 1092, Cabot, AR  72023.  Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.