James Marion Pichard

James Marion Pichard James Marion Pichard died on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at age 91. His wife, Vertis, and his son, Dale, preceded him in death. A family graveside service will be held Saturday morning, June 13. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice or to First Baptist Church. The family wishes to say how grateful it is to the staff at River Chase Care Center in Quincy for their professional care, extraordinary kindness and good humor over the past 15 months; to the staff at Big Bend Hospice - especially Bill Timmons, who attended Mr. Pichard at death; and to Dr. Dianne Pappachristou whose heart for the elderly is huge. Marion, one of six children, was born in 1917, in Tallahassee, at his parent's home on East Park Avenue. He, along with his 5 siblings, and first cousins, were the great grandchildren of Alexandre Pichard who had immigrated to Leon County from Paris, France, in the mid 1800's. As a youth, Marion played trumpet in the Tallahassee Junior Band. He attended Leon High School, Bolles Academy in Jacksonville and Emory University. He served in the United States Navy as a Pharmacist Mate during World War II. When he returned from the Navy he joined Pichard Brothers, a family building materials business established in 1909 – the first in Tallahassee. After retirement, he enjoyed working in Real Estate and as Deputy Clerk at the Leon County Court House. During trial recesses, many attorneys received his unsolicited advice on how best to strengthen their arguments. He was married to Vertis Dowdy of Glennville, Georgia, for 60 years. He served several terms as a deacon at First Baptist Church where he was a lifelong member. He was a legacy president of the Tallahassee Rotary Club and served as president of the Florida Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. His favorite hobbies were piloting small planes, gardening, fishing and sharing his camellias with friends and neighbors. He found great joy in music – especially big band and gospel. He is survived by his son, J. Brent Pichard and wife, Ley; daughter in-law, Maureen Pichard; grandchildren, Kevin Pichard (Angela), Erin Pichard (Kari), Errin Malave (Marcos), Elise Pichard Smith (John), Jay Pichard (Stephanie), Ley Ann Pichard LaFace (Ron), all of Tallahassee; great-grandchildren, JB, Jared, Jordan, Cale, Camille, Annelise, Kayla, Shane, Ryan, Victoria, Carter and Montgomery. Marion is also survived by a brother, David and his wife, Lynette; a brother, Kenneth and his wife, Elizabeth (Pug), also of Tallahassee; a sister, Frances Hammond and her husband, Charles of Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as a large extended family. I Corinthians 15: 40, 42 – 44. (KJV) "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another." "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." Job 19: 25 & 26 (RSV) "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then from (without) my flesh I shall see God."