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Curtis Martin Pickens

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Curtis Pickens Obituary

Visit the A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors - Crooks Road website to view the full obituary.

CURTIS MARTIN PICKENS, age 86, died on Monday, November 29, 2010 at the John D. Dingel/VA Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. He was born on July 9, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Leon and Theresa Bartholomew Pickens. He had been a resident of Warren, Michigan, and was a former resident of Highland Park. Mr. Pickens worked for the City of Highland Park for 30 years. He was an Animal Control Officer and a special officer for the Police Department. He was a member of the Order of Masons, the VFW, the DAV, and the PLAV (Polish League Allied Veterans). He was a former member of the Detroit Musicians Association, the Warren Polka Boosters, the Blue Water Polka Boosters, and an inductee of the Michigan Polka Hall of Fame. Mr. Pickens was an avid sportsman and patriot. He was an accomplished musician from New Orleans, LA, and formed with other local greats such as Herb Alphred and the late Louis Armstrong. Later he became part of the International Recording Artist, "The Tempo Tones", whose carrier gave the opportunities to back up a young Stevie Wonder, and also to play for the Stroh's family. Mr. Pickens was a proud, decorated U.S. Navy Veteran of WW II and the Korean War (1942-1954). He was in the Naval Special Forces, including the Minesweep Division #3, the Fighting Seabees, he was a Navy Seal and a munitions specialist and gunner on the USS Mobile ("Mighty-Mo"). He earned an American Area Medal, a Victory Medal, an Asiatic Pacific Area Medal with 10 Stars, and a Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 Star. Deceased Wife: the late Dorothy Anna (nee: Cima) Pickens, deceased July 31, 2004 Surviving Sons: Curtis Pickens (Diana) and Perry Friskey (Sue) Deceased Son: the late Paul Nasceif (Shirley) Deceased Daughter: the late Linda Amadori (Robert) Grandchildren: 9 Great-grandchildren: 12 Visitation: Sunday, December 5, 2010, from 2-7 PM at A. J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road, Troy, MI 48084 (between Maple and Big Beaver Roads) Funeral Service: Sunday, December 5, 2010 - 7 PM at the funeral home Interment: White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan, Monday, December 6, 2010 @11:30 AM Memorial Tributes may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, 20300 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076