Middlesex, VT John D. Picard John J.D. Picard of East Hill Road, Middlesex, VT died February 24, 2008 in Middlesex. J.D. was born on March 16, 1990 in Berlin the son of John A. and Megan (Walker) Picard. J.D. graduated from Rumney Elementary School and was in his senior year at U-32 High School. He was set to graduate in June. After graduation he was looking forward to joining his father in the family business, Picard Excavation, and marrying the love of his life Kira Hopkins. J.D. inherited his father's strong work ethic and never stopped before a job was finished. He learned to operate an excavator long before learning to drive a truck and loved snow plowing. An avid outdoorsman, J.D. enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping and also enjoyed four wheeling, dirt biking and snowmobiling. If there was a skill JD wanted to learn he found a way to learn it. Such as the time he wanted to learn trapping. Since his parents didn't do trapping he coerced Doug Jones into teaching him. J.D. also enjoyed playing football and lacrosse, making the varsity football team his sophomore year at U-32, he loved the high intensity and full contact of the sports. After suffering a back injury his sophomore year, J.D. choose to stop playing in order to stay healthy to keep working with his father. However, that did not stop J.D. from continuing to support the U-32 teams from the sidelines. Everyone that met J.D. seemed to instantly be his friend. A champion for the underdog, J.D. had a genuine and sincere interest in people, always willing to be everyone's friend. J.D. had a knack for getting himself in to trouble but then he would use his charm and devilish smile to get himself out. He was the "King of U-32" and enjoyed being the class clown. Just recently his classmates voted him the Senior Class "Real Vermonter" and was looking forward to having his picture taken with his "We Shape Vermont" T-shirt for the U-32 Yearbook. J.D. is survived by his parent's John and Megan Picard of Middlesex ; sister Melissa Picard; sister Jessie Alfarone and her husband Paul and their two children Oscar and Biruk; sister Suzanne Picard; Maternal Grandparents Donald and Audrey Walker of Montpelier; Kira Hopkins, her mom Polly, and her father John, who J.D. considered his second family; and by his many aunts, uncles, cousins. He is also survived by his many friends and best friend Bert Wendel Jr. Anyone that knew J.D. also knows that he left behind his hunting dog Fletcher, and his three-legged cat Annie. J.D was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Joseph and Marie Picard. Calling hours will be Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm at Guare & Sons Funeral Home. A Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. from St. Augustine Church, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier. Memorial contributions can be made to: U32 Booster Club, 930 Gallison Hill Rd, Montpelier, VT 05602 or Vermont Trappers Association, P.O. Box 451, Vernon, VT 05345-0383.