The Pickering Family

The Pickering Family Foundation was established in 2007 by Raymond and Lucille Pickering. Together with their three sons—David, Jay, and Don—they sought to live out their faith and give back to their beloved community of Lubbock, Texas, and the surrounding areas.

Both raised in small, rural farming communities, agriculture played a significant role in Raymond and Lucille’s story. As the son of a sanitation worker, Raymond was determined to pursue an education while continuing to serve small West Texas communities. He joined the Army under the GI Bill and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. After returning home, he married Lucille and began working in the back of a machine shop while attending college at Texas Tech.

Entrepreneurial in spirit, Raymond became a visionary in the irrigation industry, building and operating several successful manufacturing companies that now serve communities across the United States. He and Lucille attributed their success to their faith, their commitment to education, and the opportunities they were given to give back to others.

Raymond was a 50-year Mason and served for many years on the board of a local hospital. Lucille dedicated more than twenty years as a hospital volunteer and was honored as “Volunteer of the Year.” She also spent numerous hours volunteering with the Lubbock Women's Club and her church. 

The Pickering Family Foundation remains an important part of four generations of the Pickering family story. Today, their sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continue their legacy—serving others and stewarding their giving with purpose. Many family members continue to volunteer and serve on boards in the communities where they live and work, carrying forward a shared commitment to faith, service, and generosity.