Former long-time resident of New Canaan, Frederick Mullins Pickering, 85, of Murrells Inlet, SC died on Thursday, September 23 in South Carolina. Born and raised in New Canaan, he attended the Little Red School House on Carter St. A veteran of WWII, Fred served in the US Coast Guard. He was a retired plumber with the Modern Plumbing Company of New Canaan. Fred was very active in local organizations as a member of the Knights of Columbus (Father John H. Stapleton Council #2287), VFW (Howard M. Bossa Post #653) and had been a member of the New Canaan Volunteer Fire Company for 67 years, serving as Chief from 1961 to 1965. He is survived by his wife Carole Read Pickering, daughter Cheryl Pickering-Jones, who is the Human Resource Director for the Town of New Canaan, his son Fred Pickering who is a Lieutenant with the New Canaan Police Department and six grandchildren; Christopher, Carly and Andrew Jones of Fairfield and Shane, Cory and Mason Pickering of New Canaan, as well as two brothers, William Pickering of Florida and John Pickering of Cape Cod Massachusetts and numerous nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by two brothers James and Harry. The family will receive friends at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street on Saturday. October 3, 2009 from 2 to 5 pm, Interment will be private In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter, 659 Tower Avenue, First Floor, Hartford, CT 06112 For online condolences visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com