William (Bill) Dee Pickens passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024, due to complications after a bout of Covid-19. He died peacefully in his sleep. Bill was born on May 28, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama to Mary Susan Elkins Pickens and Earl Ray Pickens of Crockett County, TN.
Bill is survived by his daughter Pam Neild, son-in-law Rob Neild, beloved granddaughter Evelyn Neild, sister Sarah McClendon, and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
As a boy, Billy Dee was quick to laugh, pull a prank and always put family first. He never shied away from hard work and was contributing to his family’s income with a paper route as soon as he was able to ride a bike. It was on that route where he met the song writer Carl Perkins, who became famous and wealthy for writing the song Blue Suede Shoes. As Bill describes it, Carl would turn up in his gold plated Cadillac to play “nickels” against the other young men in the Projects. Bill went home and practiced and practiced at tossing nickels. Once confident, he would wait for Carl to turn up, get tipsy and then Billy Dee would go take all his money. When he wasn’t working he was reading. He had read every single book in the small Jackson, Tennessee school library before the age of 10. His sister, Cynthia, confirmed this by checking every book tag in the library.
Bill received his formal education in Jackson-Madison County Public Schools and later his Bachelor's degree in business from the Chaminade University of Honolulu. He was ambitious and used the Navy as a stepping stone to make a bigger paycheck, which he sent home to his mother and younger siblings. After his time as a radar specialist in the Navy on the U.S.S. Manatee, Bill became a computer technician for Sperry Univac, where he was stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador. This was where he met the love of his life, Bonnie Kussatz.
They were engaged via military radio from Saigon to Okinawa. They married in the Philippines in 1969 where their only child, Pam, was born. During their first five years of marriage they lived in the Philippines, Japan and Hawaii. Family brought the couple to San Rafael, California where they lived for over twenty years. Married for 50 years by December, 2019, Bill and Bonnie accomplished so much together. Their commitment to each other is everlasting.
Bonnie used to leave Bill notes to remind him that they not only dreamed, but achieved "The Impossible Dream" and reached their life goals. Together they built the largest independent automatic safety swimming pool cover distributor in the United States. Although Bill was President and CEO he embodied teamwork to the core. The day before he passed away Pam spoke to him about the amazing company he built in Pool Covers, Inc. He was quick to correct her and remind her that “we” built the company. He reminded her that it was built because of the hard work and dedication of every employee owner. Bill may have one biological daughter, but he nurtured a cherished family at Pool Covers.
In 2002, Bill retired to San Diego County, but he never fully retired. He was fond of saying that a life well lived is one where you have the opportunity to spend one third of your life learning, one third earning and one third giving. Oh boy, was Bill a giver. In San Diego, he became an active volunteer in the homeowner’s association as well as the local archeological society. He spent hours learning about and giving to local and national associations that support a healthier environment, especially for trees and birds. He took care of hundreds of wild birds with his feeders. He planted trees whenever and wherever he could. Bill’s name went to space and he has a certificate to prove it. When he traveled to see family and friends he was always generous with his time, advice and money. In 2016, Bill and Bonnie moved permanently to Portland, Oregon where they spent many happy days spending time with their granddaughter.
People like Bill don’t come around very often. He lived large in every possible way. He valued his life, the life of others and lived every minute of it. His ideas were grand and he knew how to execute them. He also knew the value of kindness and gave the most fantastic hugs. He is being hugged right now by his precious family and wife who died before him. He will be interred with Bonnie at their family plot in Morris, MN later this spring.