Alex Cole Pickering

Alex was born in Bellingham, on December 28, 1984 to Scott Pickering and Terry Morrison. He joined his sister, Sommar, whom he dearly loved, and they lived in Blaine until they both went off to college at WSU. Alex was a hardworking, hard playing kid. He always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He enjoyed playing sports at school, from the time he was five years old- soccer, football, basketball, golf, and water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing behind the family boat. But what he enjoyed most was fishing and spending time with his grandpa Baz and his best friend, Kyle Green of Blaine. And eating his grandma Claudia’s fried chicken! Alex spent his entire school life at Blaine. And loved it. When he graduated, he went on to Whatcom Community College and then transferred to WSU, where he earned a BA in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. He enjoyed motorcycles, fishing, traveling and most of all-people. During his senior year of college, his dream of a bike trip with his father and brother, Jason, was realized when they toured the southwest by Harley for a week. After graduating, he went to Europe for a month with three college friends. They traveled from Spain, down the Mediterranean coast, to southern Italy. They had a wonderful time. He moved to Phoenix, Az., where he worked as a recruiter/counselor at DeVry University for three years. He enjoyed the desert, but longed for the green of Washington. So he moved back and went to work at Zillow.com. But the travel bug had him and he longed for adventure. He left and went to Southeast Asia for three months, scuba diving and exploring in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali and Borneo. From riding a scooter up the Hoh Chi Minh trail, scuba diving off the western islands of Thailand and swimming with the elephants in the Mekong River in Vietnam. Two very close friends, Kyle Green and Keith Williams, both of Blaine, joined him in diving from the heads of elephants into the river. When he returned, he jumped on his motorcycle and headed off across America for two months. From lunch at the Biltmore Mansion in North Carolina, to Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Miami and back to Austin, Texas for a friend’s wedding. Family and friends followed his exploits on his web blog. It was fun. Alex touched lives and hearts wherever he traveled throughout his short life. Though our hearts ache that he is gone so soon, we must take comfort in the fact that we had the privilege of having him in our lives. He really lived life to the fullest. We all love you Alex…

Alex is survived by his parents; his mother, Terry Morrison of Blaine; his father, Scott (Cathy) Pickering of Birch Bay; grandmother, Claudia Morrison of Smokey Point, WA; brother Jason (Brook) Pickering of Spokane, WA; sister Sommar Pickering of Blaine; step sisters; Melissa Broussard of Bonaire, Georgia; Chevelle (Derick) Van Sweden of Lyman, WA; Jana( Weston) Hilsinger of Sedro Woolley, WA; Jamie (Travis)Hart of Sedro Woolley, WA; and step brother; Jacob (Rachel) Stilts of Sedro Woolley, WA; aunt; Jeanne (Alan) Park of Seattle; uncles; Timm Morrison (Corrie) of Smokey Point, WA; Mark (Karen) Pickering of Blaine; Todd Pickering of Blaine; Chris (Diane) Pickering of Edmonds, WA; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and so many close friends throughout the world, that we couldn’t list them all, and we wouldn’t want to miss anyone. Alex was preceded in death by his grandmother, Ruth Pickering of Blaine; and his grandfather, Donald (Baz) Morrison of Blaine. Alex and his beloved Grandpa Baz, will now be fishing Clearwater Lake together, for eternity… A celebration of Alex’s life will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2013, 11:00 AM at the Blaine Harbor Amphitheater, 220 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230. A reception will follow at the Blaine Harbor Masters meeting room, 235 Marine Dr.