Mary Young

Mary Pickett Young

99 years, 10 months young!

Born February 15, 1918, Died December 20, 2017

Lived in Austin, TX

Married to Frank Goley Young

Mary Pickett Young is survived by many adoring and adored nieces, nephews and their spouses, grand and great grand nieces, nephews and their spouses, and a sister-in-law from the Robert Edward Pickett Warden and Brian Hightower families living primarily in New Mexico and Texas. She is also survived by many adoring and adored adopted nieces and nephews whom she would also consider her family.

The graveside service will be held at South Park Cemetery in Roswell, NM, 3101 S. Main St., 88203 on Saturday, January 27th, 2018 at 11am.

The Celebration of Life for close friends and family is at Pickett's Home: 10501 Oak View Drive, AUSTIN, TX 78759 on Saturday, February 17th at 11am.

Mary Pickett Young, lovingly known as Pickett and who always said she was forever Young, went home to Heaven on December 20th, 2017 at 10:09 am. She was born in Carrizozo, NM on Feb. 15th, 1918 to Robert Edward Pickett Warden and Maude Hightower Warden. Pickett was a loving and devoted sister to her 3 siblings, as well as her six step siblings, helping to care for them through the dark years of the depression and WWII. Her experiences from those years during which she earned her living as a beautician, helped shape so much of the thoughtful and caring person she was throughout her life.

Shortly after WWII, Pickett met a handsome young soldier, Frank Young, and they later married on September 24, 1950 in Roswell, NM. Their adventure spanned 46 years and included amazing home makeovers and many fascinating stories from Clayton, El Paso, Santa Fe, Gallup and Roswell, NM. She was most deeply moved and influenced by the work she did volunteering and helping on the Indian Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico.

Pickett was a faithful follower of Christ, devoting her time to serving those in need, in particular children, through such organizations as The Boys and Girls Ranch of New Mexico, The Daughters of the Nile (the women's Shriners organization), as well as the Methodist Church. Pickett and Frank were well known for supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children, where they helped many children receive the care they needed. Pickett adored doting on her dogs whom she always said were ‘her kids', and was an ardent supporter of ASPCA.

She was a gifted artist and master of any creative hobby she undertook, which included singing with the 'Sweet Adeline's Barbershop Quartet, sewing, beading, quilting, drawing, painting, gardening, DIY projects (she was the original DIYer) and stained glass, for which she was well known. Many people were the recipients of her artwork, which she generously gifted to friends and family alike. Pickett was the life of many parties through her joyful piano or ukulele playing, all by ear. She often played for the nursing homes she lived by.

A devoted wife, loving aunt, great aunt, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister and friend to any person fortunate enough to cross her path, Pickett will be remembered most for the individual care, help, encouragement and love she showed people and animals, regardless of their age or station in life and that she made life more meaningful for them. "Aunt Pickett" took an extremely active role in helping and supporting her nieces and nephews and spent countless hours playing with her grand nieces and nephews, who were enchanted by her piano playing and creativity. She taught many of her small friends and family to drive in her Model T Ford and delighted in helping with a drawing and/or painting lesson or two.

We can't talk about Pickett without mentioning her dogs more than once! She was exceptionally good at training dogs; they would sit in her lap while she ate without moving a muscle with food right under their noses until she told them they could have a bite!

She treasured her visits with friends and family, often over a piece of her famous apple cake and a good cup of black coffee or a dry red wine, emphasis on dry! Everyone enjoyed her sense of humor and laughing with her. Pickett was an immaculate housekeeper and expected all of us to live up to that standard when in her home. We all learned a bit of fastidiousness from her and practiced it religiously while visiting her! She was often described as classy, stylish, graceful and fashionable with impeccable manners.

Pickett included family and friends on numerous adventures, including swimming, 'dress up' with her scarves, fishing/cultivating her worm farm for fishing, treasure hunting with her cherished metal detector, card playing, arrow head hunting, gambling, shopping adventures, cooking eggs on blazing hot side walks, bike riding, cherry picking, sharing her amazing 'Roswell Incident' story with grade school children, riding burros down the Grand Canyon, wine tours and any kind of traveling.

Although her life was a full one, she also endured her fair share of heartbreak and loss; in spite of this, Pickett chose to fill the world with beauty, elegance, impeccable style, great posture, fun, laughter and, most importantly, love. Pickett's was an amazing life well lived, and we will miss her dearly.

Thank you for being a precious part of her life,

Her family

In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to go to The Boys and Girls Ranch of New Mexico, https://www.theranches.org, St. Jude Children's Hospital, www.stjude.org/, American Humane, (NOT to be confused with American Humane Society) https://www.americanhumane.org/ or Operation Homefront, for wounded veterans, www.operationhomefront.org/.

Service

Graveside Service

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Saturday, January 27, 2018
11:00 am

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

Boys & Girls Club of Roswell
201 South Garden Avenue
Roswell, NM  88203


St. Judes Childrens Hospital
332 N. Lauderdale
Memphis, TN  38105


American Humane
1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360
Washington, DC, WA  20036