Justin Gregory Pickering's Obituary
Justin was born on December 24, 1976, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and passed away April 22, 2017, In Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by Wallace and Glendae Anderson (maternal grandparents) and Cleone (Kitte) Pickering (paternal grandmother). Justin is survived by Jasmin Pickering (wife), Valentina Pickering (daughter), Nancy and Greg Pickering (parents), Roger Pickering (paternal grandfather), Patricia Aguilar (mother-in-law), Rigo Castro (brother-in-law), Lindsay Aguilar (sister-in-law) and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Justin was born to Nancy and Greg Pickering on Christmas Eve morning, 1976, at Eitel hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a beloved gift from God! At age two, he moved with his parents to Bellevue, Washington and lived in the Seattle metroplex most of his life. Justin loved Seattle, and had many good friends there! He graduated from Redmond High School in 1995, from Bellevue College in 2002 with an Associate’s degree, and subsequently earned various certifications in IT. After completing his formal education, Justin indulged his adventurous spirit and traveled extensively. He explored all but two of the contiguous United States and then traveled throughout Europe and North Africa for several months with one of his best friends from Seattle. This opportunity for travel was one of the happiest times in Justin’s life. Upon his return to the US, he visited his parents in Dallas, quickly found employment, and ended up living in Texas the rest of his life. Justin’s career was primarily in mortgage banking. However, most recently he worked as a systems analyst at Bank of America. He met and married his wife, Jasmin Aguilar, in 2008 and daughter Valentina was born to them in 2010. Valentina was her papa’s pride and joy! They were so much alike in many ways, and their frequent trips to the zoo were extra special outings that they enjoyed together. Justin loved the outdoors and, as a young man, he especially loved hiking in the mountains, skateboarding, snowboarding, and boogie boarding on the Washington coast. He loved his many pets, music, Thai food, films, wolves and the majestic forestlands of the Pacific Northwest. Also, his love for travel continued throughout his life, and he and his wife traveled whenever possible, including trips to Jasmin’s native country of Honduras, Jamaica, Toronto, Belize and Mexico. Justin is remembered as a kind and generous person who always looked for the good in others. He volunteered at Habitat for Humanity in his younger years and more recently engaged in fundraising for multiple disaster relief projects and a start-up orphanage in Honduras. Justin was loved by people from all walks of life and will be truly missed for his gentle and caring ways, and for his big heart. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 28, 2017, from 6-8 PM at Restland’s Abbey Chapel. The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 1 PM at St. Rita Catholic Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75243.
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