proper way to update picklist for this scenario?

Hello - I'm trying to figure out the proper way to update a picklist in the following scenario:

1. I want to remove an option from a picklist 2. I want the picklist option to be available for Advanced Find so the user can search for records that have already been created with that picklist option

I removed the picklist option through Customization which removed the picklist option from the form but this action also removed the option as a lookup option on the Advanced Find view.

I should be able to remove the picklist option from the form with javascript on form load.  But is this the most proper way to handle this scenario in CRM?