Kern Lyle Picknell was born in Prineville Oregon on January 9, 1947 and passed away on May 23, 2015 in Walla Walla after a brief illness. A memorial gathering will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2015 in a meadow at 69609 Poverty Flats Road, Pendleton, Exit #224 off of I-84.
He was the third of four children born to Stanley and Lucille (Duncan) Picknell. He lived in Powell Butte and graduated from Elkton, Oregon high school, received an accounting degree from Oregon State University. His studies were interrupted by service in the Navy where he was an electronics technician and served at Navy station off the coast of Vietnam, in Thailand and Okinawa. He later served in the Navy Reserves and the National Guard, retiring as a Sergeant First Class.
Following graduation, Kern worked for the Oregon Department of Revenue. He had a choice of working in Astoria or Pendleton and he opted for the dry side of the state, moving to Pendleton in 1975. After 20 plus years, he retired from the Department of Revenue and opened his own tax office.
After some time, he sold his business and moved to Seattle where he worked in the tax software industry. In 1988, Kern met the love of his life, Laura Holt, through work. After a long courtship, they married on August 13, 2000.
Kern was a life-long avid reader. As a young boy, he filled his arms from fingertips to chin with books from the Book Mobile. He loved his dogs, living in the country, spending time with his brothers, tinkering with computers and traveling. He was easy going, generous, kind-hearted, and loyal. As a loving son, he purchased a home for his parents to live in during their retirement years.
He is survived by his loving wife, Laura Holt; sister, Nancy Picknell; brothers, Timm Picknell, Lee Picknell; nieces and nephew and the family he gained through marriage.
