Carol Pickett Hull

Seward, Alaska - It is with profound sadness that her family announces the passing of Carol Pickett Hull, a celebrated Alaska Native athlete and a trailblazer in the world of traditional Indigenous sports. Carol passed away on May 5, 2025, at her home in Seward, Alaska, leaving behind an exceptional life legacy of Native sports across the world.
Carol gained national recognition in 1989 when she set a world record in the traditional style of the One-Foot-High Kick, achieving a remarkable height of seven feet at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO). That year she was honored as the Alaska Sportsperson of the Year. Her record-setting feat stood unchallenged until 2024, proof of her extraordinary strength, agility, and dedication to the preservation of Native athletic traditions. She continued to build her collection of hundreds of gold, silver, and bronze medals in such events as High Kicks, Toe Kick, and was graceful on the Blanket Toss. She avidly studied the games and continued to share the knowledge and legacy of the games through coaching of others. She most recently loved coaching the student and parents of the Qutekcak Tribe in Seward for Native Youth Olympics.
A Native games icon, Carol was inducted into the inaugural class of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022, a testament to her enduring influence and contributions to Indigenous sports and culture.
Beyond her athletic prowess, Carol was a cherished member of her community, known for her warmth, generosity, artistry, and passion for mentoring the next generation of athletes. "Remember where you come from, know where you want to be," is the mission she lived by. Her life and legacy will continue to inspire those who strive for excellence in sports and who work to uphold the cultural heritage of Alaska Native peoples.
Carol was a master of any craft she put her hands to. Her kuspuks were highly sought after. She crafted small gifts for family, and even started her Blue Iris Creations business. You could frequently find her in various crafting socials in Seward. She found friendship with whom she rode her Harley Davidson Softtail. If you wanted to find her in the summer, she was fishing in Resurrection Bay with her husband and his parents, Tom and Edna Hull in the "HullTastic", which was her happy place. What did Carol not do or enjoy was a very hard question to answer. She loved everything.
Carol, as accomplished as she was in the Native games and crafting, always put family first. She stepped up to help without question of her blood family, and the family she created around the state. Her two closest friends, Nicole Johnson-Morton and Gina Kalloch are examples of the love she shared, among hundreds of others. They can attest to her beaming smiles, laughs, cries, and enduring love. Tom and Edna embraced Carol as their own daughter. It was easy for Carol to embed herself wherever she was and with whomever she met.
Carol was a class of 1982 graduate at Anchorage West High School. She was also a graduate of Doyon Leadership Training facilitated by Tracy Snow. She was a long time employee of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Doyon, Limited, and their subsidiaries.
Carol is survived by her husband, Garry; son, Jared Pickett-Popp and his daughters, Sidney and Elliott; grandson, Drew; daughter, Caitlyn Pickett-Bowell Blair; her husband, Mike and daughter, Aurelia; stepchildren, Garry, Jr, and Sarah Hull; sister, Anna Pickett Chamberland; her husband, Bill; auntie, Margaret Pickett; parents-in-law, Tom and Edna Hull; sister-in-law, Cindy Scott and her family; and hundreds of cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Beatrice Pickett; brother, Gerald Kost; and sister, Theresa Kost.
A celebration of Carol's life will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Followed by potluck. Bring a dish, take a dish.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to World Eskimo-Indian Olympics and Qutekcak Tribe.